| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US10027502B2 |
Information processing method and electronic device
An information processing method and an electronic device are described where the method includes receiving and storing a first set of rule information, the first set of rule information including one piece or more pieces of first rule information, each piece of first rule information indicating a specific rule that a first control device triggers a second sub-device to perform a predetermined operation in response to detection of a predetermined condition of a first sub-device; extracting second rule information from each piece of first rule information to generate a second set of rule information; and transmitting the second set of rule information to the second control device. |
| US10027500B2 |
System and method for providing network support services and premises gateway support infrastructure
A service management system communicates via wide area network with gateway devices located at respective user premises. The service management system remotely manages delivery of application services, which can be voice controlled, by a gateway, e.g. by selectively activating/deactivating service logic modules in the gateway. The service management system also may selectively provide secure communications and exchange of information among gateway devices and among associated endpoint devices. An exemplary service management system includes a router connected to the network and one or more computer platforms, for implementing management functions. Examples of the functions include a connection manager for controlling system communications with the gateway devices, an authentication manager for authenticating each gateway device and controlling the connection manager and a subscription manager for managing applications services and/or features offered by the gateway devices. A service manager, controlled by the subscription manager, distributes service specific configuration data to authenticated gateway devices. |
| US10027497B2 |
System and method for controlling multicast geographic distribution
A content distribution network includes first and second controllers, and multicast enabled routers. The first controller is configured to select a multicast channel for distributing content, to determine that the content has a geographic restriction associated with a restricted area in the content distribution network, to link an exclusion policy for the content to the multicast channel while the multicast channel provides the content, and to deny a request for the content from a client system within the restricted area based on the exclusion policy. The second controller is configured to distribute the exclusion policy to the multicast enabled routers including a first router configured to store the exclusion policy, and to ignore a multicast join message from the client system within the restricted area based on the exclusion policy. |
| US10027495B2 |
Idle scheduling method and home network node
The embodiment of the present document relates to an idle scheduling method and a home network node, wherein the method includes: a domain master node performing an idle scheduling on intra-domain ordinary nodes according to an idle scheduling policy; when the domain master node determines that all the intra-domain ordinary nodes are in a energy-saving mode according to the idle scheduling information of all the intra-domain ordinary nodes, the domain master node entering into the energy-saving mode, and when all the intra-domain ordinary nodes are in an idle state, the domain master node being in the idle state. |
| US10027493B2 |
PoE power utilization arrangement and method
A PoE power utilization method constituted of: detecting a first function of a voltage between a current path node and a current return path node during a first time period and during a second time period, the second time period different than the first time period; sensing a second function of the magnitude of a current flowing through the current path during the second time period; responsive to the detected first time period voltage function, the detected second time period voltage function and the sensed second time period current magnitude function, determining a third function of a resistance seen by the current path; and outputting an indication of the determined resistance function. |
| US10027491B2 |
Certificate distribution using derived credentials
Disclosed are approaches for distributing credentials using derived credentials, such as by relaying a simple certificate enrollment protocol (SCEP) payload. A computing device configures a device profile corresponding to a client device. The device profile can include a SCEP payload. The computing device later receives an override for the SCEP payload from a broker service. In response, the computing device creates a copy of the device profile that includes the override for the SCEP payload. The computing device then sends the copy of the device profile to the client device. |
| US10027489B2 |
Digital rights management system and method
An architecture for application of digital rights management to industrial automation devices including programmable logic controllers (PLCs), I/O devices, and communication adapters is provided. Digital rights management involves a set of technologies for controlling and managing access to device objects and/or programs such as ladder logic programs. Access to automation device objects and/or programs can be managed by downloading rules of use that define user privileges with respect to automation devices and utilizing digital certificates, among other things, to verify the identity of a user desiring to interact with device programs, for example. The architecture can provide for secure transmission of messages to and amongst automation devices utilizing public key cryptography associated with digital certificates. |
| US10027487B2 |
System and method for providing auditable secure seeds to random number generators across multiple entities
A processor generates a first seed, wherein the first seed is a random number. The processor generates, a digital signature of the first seed. An interface communicates digital signature of the first seed to a first remote entity. The interface receives a digital signature of a second seed. After communicating the digital signature of the first seed to the first remote entity, the interface receives the second seed from the first remote entity. After receiving the digital signature of the second seed, the interface communicates the first seed to the first remote entity. The processor determines, using the digital signature of the second seed and the second seed, whether the second seed is valid. Upon a determination that the second seed is valid, the processor combines the first seed and the second seed to form a drawing seed. The processor generates a first draw result using the drawing seed and a drawing algorithm. The interface receives a second draw result from the first remote entity. The processor compares the first draw result and the second draw result. The processor communicates the draw results upon a determination that the first draw result and the second draw result are in agreement. |
| US10027481B2 |
Management of cryptographic keys
An electronic device for management of cryptographic keys, and a corresponding method implemented in a computing device comprising a physical processor, transmit feature data of the device to a key generation module, wherein the feature data comprises information corresponding to an identifier or an attribute of the device, and receive, by the device from the key generation module, a digital signature of the transmitted feature data. The device installs the received digital signature as a cryptographic private key for communication, and performs a cryptographic operation using the installed digital signature as the cryptographic private key. |
| US10027478B2 |
Differential key backup
A method begins by computing device receiving a store data object message. The method continues by determining at least a portion of the data object. The method continues by determining an encryption key based on the at least a portion of the data object and a key reference of the encryption key. The method continues by retrieving a prior encryption key with a similar key reference from dispersed storage network (DSN) memory and calculating a difference key based on the encryption key and the prior encryption key. The method continues by creating encryption key information including the difference key and the similar key reference of the prior encryption key and encrypting the portion of the data object utilizing the key in accordance with operational parameters. |
| US10027476B2 |
Method for generating a secret or a key in a network
A method for generating a secret or a key in a network, the network including at least one first and one second member and a transmission channel between at least the first and the second members. The first and second members being able to place at least one first value and one second value on the transmission channel. The first member causes a first member value sequence and the second member causes a second member value sequence to be transmitted over the transmission channel largely synchronously with each other. The first member and the second member generate a shared secret or a shared key on the basis of information about the first member value sequence and the second member value sequence and on the basis of an overlap value sequence resulting from the overlap of the first member value sequence with the second member value sequence on the transmission channel. |
| US10027474B2 |
Hearing device with communication protection and related method
A hearing device includes: a processing unit configured to compensate for hearing loss of a user of the hearing device; and an interface; wherein the processing unit is configured to: receive a session request for a session via the interface, obtain and store a session key, encrypt the session key based on a hearing device key, send a session response comprising the encrypted session key, and receive session data in the session via the interface. |
| US10027472B2 |
Non-linear physically unclonable function (PUF) circuit with machine-learning attack resistance
Embodiments include apparatuses, methods, and systems for a physically unclonable function (PUF) circuit. The PUF circuit may include an array of PUF cells to generate respective response bits of an authentication code in response to a challenge bit string. The PUF cells may include a pair of cross-coupled inverters, the individual inverters including independently selectable pull-down or pull-up legs. One of the pull-up or pull-down legs of each inverter may be selectively activated based on the challenge bit string. The PUF cells may further include first and second configurable clock delay circuits to pass respective clock signals to pre-charge transistors of the PUF cell. A dark bit masking circuit may generate a soft dark bit mask for the PUF circuit. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US10027468B1 |
Ethernet physical layer circuit and clock recovery method thereof
An Ethernet physical layer circuit and a clock recovery method are provided. An analog-to-digital converter samples an analog input signal with a sampling clock to generate a digital input signal. A clock generator is coupled to the analog-to-digital converter, outputs the sampling clock to the analog-to-digital converter, and adjusts a phase of the sampling clock according to a phase control signal. The clock recovery circuit is coupled to the analog-to-digital converter and the clock generator, detects a timing error of the digital input signal at refresh stages in a lower energy consumption idle mode to obtain phase adjustment information, and generates the phase control signal based on the phase adjustment information at quiet stages in the low power idle mode. The clock generator correspondingly receives the phase control signal in the quiet stages to adjust the phase of the sampling clock. |
| US10027466B2 |
Full duplex radio communication
A method performed under control of a first device capable of full duplex radio communications may include receiving a first part of a first data from a second device capable of the full duplex radio communications; determining that the second device has transmitted the first data to the first device, based, at least in part, on the received first part of the first data; and transmitting a second data to the second device, while receiving a second part of the first data from the second device. |
| US10027461B2 |
Uplink control channel configuration for a secondary cell in a wireless network
A wireless device receives a plurality of parameters of a plurality of cells grouped into a plurality of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) groups comprising a primary PUCCH group and a secondary PUCCH group. The plurality of parameters comprise configuration parameters for a secondary cell. The secondary cell is mapped to the secondary PUCCH group if a first parameter is present in the configuration parameters, otherwise the secondary cell is mapped to the primary PUCCH group. The secondary cell is considered to be the PUCCH secondary cell if PUCCH parameters are present in the configuration parameters. |
| US10027460B2 |
System and method for sharing a control channel for carrier aggregation
A method for processing a control channel at a user agent (UA) to identify at least one of an uplink and a downlink resource allocated by a resource grant within a multi-carrier communication system wherein resource grants are specified by control channel element (CCE) subset candidates, the method comprising the steps of identifying the number of configured carriers used to communicate with the access device, based on the number of configured carriers used to communicate with the access device, identifying a number of CCE subset candidates to decode and decoding up to the identified number of CCE subset candidates in an attempt to identify the resource grant. |
| US10027459B2 |
IEEE 802.11 communication utilizing carrier specific interference mitigation
Wireless communication under IEEE 802.11 standards utilizing carrier specific interference mitigation where an AP or UE employs an ultra-wideband tuner to evaluate available spectrum between several communication bands. Rather than being constrained to communicate in a single communication band, the AP and UEs may utilize more than one communication band to communicate with one another. In doing so, the AP and UE search across several bands and measure interference on a carrier-by-carrier basis across those bands. Either of the AP and UE may select a cluster of carriers for communication, where the cluster of carriers may comprise 1) contiguous carriers in a single sub-channel, 2) contiguous carriers spanning across more than one sub-channel, 3) discontinuous carriers in a single sub-channel, or 4) discontinuous carriers spanning across more than one sub-channel. The mapping between a cluster and its carriers can be fixed or reconfigurable. |
| US10027456B2 |
Beam switching and recovery
Apparatuses and methods of beam switching are presented. A beam switch message (BSM) is transmitted to a second device via a first beam set. The BSM includes a command to switch from communication via the first beam set to communication via a second beam set at a switch time. It is determined whether a response message is received from the second device via the first beam set, the response message indicating that the second device received the BSM. A communication is sent to the second device via the second beam set after the switch time when the response message is unreceived. |
| US10027451B2 |
Base station, terminal, search space setting method and decoding method
The invention provides a base station that does not cause the number of blind decodings to be increased and further can prevent the flexibility of resource allocation from degrading. A search space setting unit sets search spaces each of which is constituted by one or more control channel elements (CCEs) and each of which is to be decoded in the terminals and each of which is defined by a plurality of to-be-decoded candidates. An allocating unit places, in one of the plurality of to-be-decoded candidates included in the search space, a control channel. The number of connections of CCEs constituting the to-be-decoded candidate is associated with the number of to-be-decoded candidates. The search space setting unit causes, in accordance with the control channel to be transmitted, the association of the number of connections of CCEs constituting the to-be-decoded candidate with the number of to-be-decoded candidates to differ. |
| US10027449B2 |
Signal fields in a high efficiency wireless local area network (WLAN) data unit
A first signal field to be included in a preamble of a physical layer (PHY) data unit is generated. The first signal field includes formatting information for a second signal field to be included in the PHY data unit. The formatting information includes an indication of a number of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols in the second signal field. The second signal field is generated according to the formatting information in the first signal field. The second signal field includes formatting information for a data portion of the PHY data unit. The data portion is generated according to the formatting information in the second signal field. The preamble is generated to include at least the first signal field and the second signal field, The PHY data unit is generated to include the preamble and the data portion. |
| US10027445B2 |
Terminal, base station, and communication method
A base station includes a transmission unit and a reception unit. The transmission unit transmits a first uplink-downlink configuration in notification as information specific to the base station, a second uplink-downlink configuration configured as information specific to the terminal. The reception unit receives HARQ response information by using a PUCCH resource for the HARQ response information to PDSCH transmission of the terminal. The PUCCH resource is given based on elements in a set defined by a table. The table is defined for a combination of the first uplink-downlink configuration and the second uplink-downlink configuration. |
| US10027441B2 |
Method and apparatus for decoding data in receiver that uses non-binary low density parity check code
Provided is a method for receiving data in a receiver that performs decoding using a non-binary Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) code. The method includes generating a message vector for each symbol by demodulating received data; determining data characteristics and channel characteristics of the received data; determining the number of vector elements to be used for decoding among vector elements of the message vector using at least one of the data characteristics and the channel characteristics; and selecting vector elements according to the determined number of vector elements, and decoding the received data using the selected vector elements. |
| US10027440B2 |
Control circuit of wireless user equipment
A control circuit of a wireless user equipment includes: a PDCP layer computing circuit for reading a PDCP SDU from a PDCP SDU buffer of a memory device of the wireless user equipment, and for generating a ciphered data based on the PDCP SDU; a RLC layer computing circuit for generating a RLC PDU based on the ciphered data; a MAC layer computing circuit for generating a MAC PDU based on the RLC PDU; and a channel encoding circuit for encoding the MAC PDU. The PDCP layer computing circuit directly transmits the ciphered data to the RLC layer computing circuit, the RLC layer computing circuit directly transmits the RLC PDU to the MAC layer computing circuit, and the MAC layer computing circuit directly transmits the MAC PDU to the channel encoding circuit, without buffering above data in any buffering circuit outside the control circuit. |
| US10027438B2 |
Accessing CP channels with LP terminals via wavefront multiplexing
An apparatus comprises a wavefront muxing processor receiving first and second input signals to generate first and second output signals on first and second communication channels, respectively, the first and second output signals being at a common frequency slot and having relative differential amplitude and phase delays; and an amplitude and phase adjustment element located at one of the first and second communication channels to adjust the relative differential amplitude and phase delays using an adjustment amount to reduce interference in the first and second communication channels. The first output signal is a weighted sum of the first input signal and the second input signal that is phase shifted by a second phase shift. The second output signal is a weighted sum of the second input signal and the first input signal that is phase shifted by a first phase shift. The two output signals are transmitted to a transponder. |
| US10027437B2 |
Mode-multiplexing control method, and transmission apparatus and reception apparatus for the same
A mode-multiplexing control method, and a transmission apparatus and reception apparatus for the same, the mode-multiplexing control method performed by the transmission apparatus, the mode-multiplexing control method including measuring data traffic, determining a transmission mode count to be used based on the measured data traffic, and transmitting data to a reception apparatus through an optical line in transmission modes corresponding to the determined transmission mode count. |
| US10027429B1 |
Wireless radio frequency instrumentation and adaptive network management system
Proactive systems for monitoring, diagnosing, and providing a plan of corrective action for Radio Frequency (RF) hardware components as part of a greater system or network in telecommunications. The system can be used for remote sites and in conjunction with current network management tools as the most prolific and fundamental piece of instrumentation in telecommunication networks. The system can be used simply as an RF development instrument for any industry requiring the use of high frequency signals. It consists of four sensor modules that are wirelessly linked to a receiver module which could be miles away. The sensors are: RF power detector, Spectrum Analyzer, Interference Cancelling Synthesizer, dual function RF power detector and spectrum analyzer. The data gathered allows the user to create a profile for specific malfunctions in the RF chain, as well as interference direction, strength and source type leading to remotely deployed solution, and a mobile network. |
| US10027424B2 |
Low-latency adjustment of flexible transceivers using pilot signal
In an optical communication system having flexible transceivers, a transmitter section of one of the flexible transceivers generates a modulated pilot signal whose amplitude or phase or both have been modulated according to a digital code. An optical signal is transmitted from the transmitter section to a receiver section of another of the flexible transceivers. The optical signal conveys data and the modulated pilot signal. The digital code encodes parameter information for the transmitter section and for the receiver section. The receiver section receives the modulated pilot signal, determines the digital code by demodulating the modulated pilot signal, and determines the parameter information from the digital code. The transmitter section and the receiver section adjust their configuration according to the parameter information. The receiver section, while configured according to the parameter information, processes received data or future received data. |
| US10027423B1 |
Adaptive demapper
An adaptive demapper adaptively demaps an input symbol. An input symbol is received and demapped in a hard-output demapper to generate a current detected symbol corresponding to a constellation point on a current constellation closest to the input symbol. A corrected inverse of a current noise power estimate is determined by updating a previous noise power estimate based on a difference between the input symbol and the current detected symbol. In a soft-output demapper, a log likelihood ratio corresponding to the current detected symbol is determined based on the corrected inverse of the current noise power estimate. The constellation point in the current constellation corresponding to the current detected symbol is then updated to generate an updated constellation based on a difference between the constellation point and the received input symbol. |
| US10027419B2 |
Polarization-controlled optical channel and memory device including the same
A memory system includes a memory controller, a plurality of memory modules, and a memory bus connecting the memory controller and the plurality of memory modules. The memory bus includes at least one polarization-controlled optical channel configured to control a polarization of transmission light in response to a plurality of selection signals in order to transfer the transmission light to a target memory module among the plurality of memory modules. The transmission light is linearly-polarized light provided from the memory controller, and the plurality of selection signals correspond to the plurality of memory modules, respectively. |
| US10027415B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for transmitting and receiving control signal in analog radio-over-fiber (ROF)-based mobile fronthaul
An apparatus for transmitting a control signal in a radio-over-fiber (RoF)-based mobile fronthaul includes: a data channel transmitter configured to generate a data signal at a preassigned frequency or wavelength; a control channel transmitter configured to generate a control signal at a designated frequency or wavelength that is shared with other apparatuses; and a combiner configured to combine the data signal with the control signal. |
| US10027414B2 |
Bidirectional amplifier
A bidirectional optical amplifier amplifies optical signals having signal wavelength and signal power input from two directions. The amplifier is arranged so that two counter-propagating signals pass through a first pumped rare earth doped pre-amplifier before passing through other amplifiers downstream. Optical circulators route the two counter propagating signals so that they both pass through in a counter-propagating manner through subsequent pumped rare earth doped amplifiers downstream. |
| US10027410B2 |
System and method using a gated retro-reflector for visible light uplink communication
A device uses gated retro-reflectors to transmit uplink data in a visible light communication (VLC) system. The gated retro-reflector includes a retro-reflector and a gating shutter between the retro-reflector and a VLC light source. A light sensor receives VLC data at regular intervals in which a light pulse received during one of the intervals represents a first downloaded symbol and absence of a light pulse during another one of the intervals represents a second downloaded symbol. A controller controls the gating shutter to send uplink data from the device responsive to each received VLC light pulse. The controller opens the gating shutter during the reception of a VLC light pulse to upload a first uploaded symbol and closes the gating shutter during the reception of a VLC light pulse to upload a second uploaded symbol. |
| US10027404B2 |
Loopback satellite transponder pre-distorter
A high throughput satellite communication system and method of satellite communication that provide loopback capability and increased throughput is disclosed. The satellite communication system and method of satellite communication utilize pre-distortion based on remotely estimated characteristics of a satellite transponder's power amplifier (PA). The pre-distortion is applied to the hub modulator's constellation. |
| US10027399B2 |
Method for coding-based, delay-efficient data transmission
A method, apparatus and computer program product for -based, delay-efficient data transmission for broadcasting a single file is presented. A file (f) comprised of K packets to be broadcast to a plurality of receivers is determined. A plurality of packets (Pk) of the file are selected for transmission during a timeslot (t). Next, a linear combination of the selected packets (P[t]) are produced, the linear combination of packets are selected at random within the file. The linear combination of selected packets is then transmitted to a plurality of receivers over unreliable channels. |
| US10027397B2 |
Distributed antenna system and methods for use therewith
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method, includes coordinating relay transmission of a modulated signal via relay links of a distributed antenna system to reduce an accumulated forwarding delay in forwarding the modulated signal through the relay links. One of the relay links of the distributed antenna system reconverts the spectral segment of the modulated signal for transmission to a communication device to which the modulated signal is directed. |
| US10027395B2 |
Method and device for reporting channel state information in wireless communication system
A method and device for reporting channel state information in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method for reporting channel state information (CSI) by means of a terminal in a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: measuring a first reference signal transmitted from a first subset of antenna ports from among a plurality of antenna ports in a base station; measuring a second reference signal transmitted from a second subset of antenna ports from among the plurality of antenna ports; and reporting the CSI to the base station based on at least one of the measurement of the first reference signal and the measurement of the second reference signal, wherein at least one of the plurality of antenna ports is included in both the first subset and the second subset. |
| US10027394B2 |
Beamforming using base and differential codebooks
Embodiments of methods and apparatus for determining and/or quantizing a beamforming matrix are disclosed. In some embodiments, the determining and/or quantizing of the beamforming matrix may include the use of a base codebook and a differential codebook. Additional variants and embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US10027393B2 |
Beamform training and operation for multiple single-input single-output links
Methods and apparatus to operating multiple single-input single-output beamform links. An example method includes determining strengths of a first wireless link between a first transmission sector and a first receiver sector and a second wireless link between a second transmission sector and a second receiver sector, determining whether the first and second wireless links is busy or idle, selecting an idle wireless link of the plurality of wireless links based on the strengths of the first and second wireless links that are idle, and establishing a transmission connection with the selected idle wireless link. |
| US10027388B2 |
Wireless transmission precoding
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe systems and methods for precoding wireless transmissions. Various embodiments may precode rank-one or rank-two wireless transmissions onto four antennas. Various embodiments may precode wireless transmissions using a precoding matrix selected from a group of matrices, wherein different groups of matrices differ in total angular region, number of beams, or angular distance between beams. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed. |
| US10027384B2 |
Method and device for performing NIB comp transmission in wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and more particularly, to a method and device for performing or supporting NIB coordinated multi-point (CoMP) transmission in a wireless communication system. The method and device for performing NIB CoMP transmission in the wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention include: receiving signaling comprising at least one CoMP hypothesis set and at least one benefit metric from a first network node, at a second network node; and performing CoMP transmission based on the at least one CoMP hypothesis set, at the second network node. The at least one CoMP hypothesis set comprises information on hypothetical operation of CoMP network nodes. |
| US10027381B2 |
Method and apparatus for inductive coupling signal transmission
Method and Apparatuses for of transmitting data between semiconductor chips are described. An example apparatus includes a first semiconductor chip and a second semiconductor chip. The first semiconductor chip includes first and second inductors. The first semiconductor chip transmits a first combination of a plurality of data bits in logical value by flowing a first current through the first inductor and by flowing substantially no current through the second inductor. The second semiconductor chip includes third and fourth inductors that correspond respectively to the first and second inductors of the first semiconductor chip. The second semiconductor chip receives the first combination of the plurality of data bits in logical value by detecting an electromotive force at the third inductor responsive to the first current and by detecting substantially no electromotive force at the fourth inductor responsive to no current. |
| US10027378B2 |
Power reception device, power transmission device, and wireless power transmission system
According to one embodiment, a power reception device includes: a power receiver that wirelessly receives power from a power transmission device; a power storage that stores the power received by the power receiver; and a signal transmitter configured to transmit a detection signal, the signal transmitter being independent of a power system operating with power fed from the power storage. |
| US10027373B2 |
Frequency hopping
A communications node operable to communicate with another communications node over a communications channel having a plurality of frequency resources, the communications node includes data defining a division of the communications channel into a plurality of contiguous sub-bands each having N frequency resources, wherein each frequency resource in a sub-band has a corresponding frequency resource in each of the other sub-bands, data defining an initial allocation of the frequency resources, a resource determination module operable to apply a frequency shift to the initially allocated frequency resources in accordance with a frequency hopping sequence to determine frequency resources to use for communicating information with the other communications node, wherein the frequency shift applied moves the initially allocated frequency resources to corresponding frequency resources in another sub-band, a transceiver for communicating information with the other communications node using the determined frequency resource. |
| US10027371B2 |
Spreading signal generating method, generating device, receiving method and receiving device
The application relates to a spreading signal generating method, generating device, receiving method and receiving device. The spreading signal generating method comprises: generating a first spreading signal component and a second spreading signal component, wherein the first spreading signal component and the second spreading signal component each comprise a spreading code and a binary subcarrier, the spreading code of the first spreading signal component is the same as the spreading code of the second spreading signal component, the binary subcarrier of the first spreading signal component is different from the binary subcarrier of the second spreading signal component; and modulating the first spreading signal component and the second spreading signal component with radio frequency (RF) carriers so as to generate the spreading signal, where a phase of RF carrier for modulating the first spreading signal component is different from a phase of RF carrier for modulating the second spreading signal component. |
| US10027368B2 |
System and method for passive intermodulation identification using cyclostationary signals
The present disclosure describes systems and methods for determining intermodulation distortion in a system such as, but not limited to, a communication system. In an embodiment, intermodulation distortion is determined by injecting a signal into a frequency band which interacts with a second signal, searching a second frequency band for a product signal formed from the first and second signals, applying a cyclostationarity detection technique to the product signal and identifying the product signal as an intermodulation distortion signal. |
| US10027360B2 |
SIM card connectorfor preventing SIM card burnout by detecting insertion and removal of the SIM card
A SIM card connector includes a base, signal spring, a detection apparatus, and a controller. The detection apparatus is configured to cooperate with one side of a SIM card, and includes a fixed contact and a detection spring, where an action of the SIM card can be detected by separation or union between the fixed contact and the detection spring. The controller can disconnect a power supply of the signal spring before the SIM card is separated from the signal spring, and can switch on the power supply of the signal spring after the SIM card presses against the signal spring, which effectively prevents the SIM card from being burned out by a momentary electric arc generated between the SIM card and the signal spring when the SIM card is being inserted or removed. |
| US10027355B2 |
Blocker detection based automatic gain control
Modular gain control based on blocker signal detection is disclosed herein. In a multi-stage gain control scheme for a receiver, the input stage gain or the pre-mixing stage gain can be controlled for effective blocker rejection based on detecting a blocker signal at a mixer, and the output stage gain or the post-mixing stage gain can be controlled to restore and maintain an appropriate output level after pre-mixing gain reduction performed for blocker rejection. Accordingly, the RF communication systems herein can include multiple loops for providing AGC. In particular, an RF communication system can include a main loop and a blocker loop used to override the main loop when the blocker signal is detected. In certain configurations, the blocker loop reduces the gain of an RF VGA, while the main loop will increase the gain of an IF VGA to restore the output power. |
| US10027349B2 |
Extended error correction coding data storage
A memory management system and a method of managing a memory device are described. The system includes a memory device with a memory array to store data and associated error correction coding (ECC) bits and an extended correction table. The extended correction table stores error information additional to the ECC bits for one or more of the data in the memory array. The system also includes a controller to control the memory device to write and read the data. |
| US10027345B2 |
Wall encoding and decoding
The encoding of an input string of binary characters includes: a register storing a cellular data structure definition including a starting empty cell; a register storing a group cell structure definition for a valid brick formation; a brick validation engine testing data structure at a current cell beginning with the starting empty cell for an invalid brick formation; a character reading/writing engine writing, if the empty cell is not invalid, a binary character from the input string to the empty cell and writing, if the empty cell is invalid, a dummy value to the empty cell; a loop facilitator looping back through the testing and writing steps with a next data character and a next empty cell until there are no more data characters; and a serialization de-serialization engine methodically serializing the data structure into a one dimensional binary string of characters representing an encoded string of alphanumeric characters. |
| US10027338B2 |
Buffer, and digital to analog converter in combination with a buffer
A buffer is provided where a part of the buffer is implemented in switched capacitor or other analog discrete time processing circuitry and a dynamic response characteristic, such as an effective gain or charge transfer coefficient between the input stage and an output stage is digitally controllable. This means that the buffer can be driven as if it was a system controlled by, for example a three (3) term controller, giving rise to greater, digital flexibility in tailoring the buffer's transient response. |
| US10027337B2 |
Device for digitizing an analogue signal
A device for digitizing an analog signal, wherein a distortion signal outlet of a distortion signal generator is only coupled to an analog digital converter by passive components. |
| US10027334B2 |
Computing apparatus and computing method
According to an embodiment, a computing apparatus includes spin torque oscillators, an interaction unit, a variable direct-current supply device, and a measuring unit. The interaction unit controls an interaction between the spin torque oscillators. The variable direct-current supply device supplies a current to induce oscillations of the spin torque oscillators. The measuring unit measures AC signals obtained from the spin torque oscillators. |
| US10027332B1 |
Referenceless clock and data recovery circuits
Referenceless clock and data recovery circuits are described that operate to align the clock/data strobe with each data eye to achieve a low bit error rate. The appropriate frequency and phase to be used is determined by an edge counter based frequency error detector and a phase error detector. |
| US10027327B2 |
Routing and programming for resistive switch arrays
Various structures and methods are disclosed related to routing and programming circuitry on integrated circuits (“IC”) that have arrays of programmable resistive switches. In some embodiments, routing structures utilize densely populated resistive switch arrays to provide for efficient selection circuits that route into and out of logic regions. In other embodiments, programming circuitry is provided to help maintain relatively consistent programming current throughout an array of resistive switches to be programmed. In other embodiments, methods are provided for programming resistive switches without violating given power constraints. These and other embodiments are described further herein. |
| US10027322B2 |
Interdigitated capacitive proximity sensor with varied space electrode structure
Embodiments related to a capacitive proximity sensor with a variable spacing electrode structure, which is suited to a non-destructive testing operation, such as the detection of dielectric properties of the polymer materials with a thickness decreases gradually structure. The designed sensor includes a driving electrode, a sensing electrode, a substrate, a guarding electrode and a lead connector. The driving and sensing electrodes include several interdigitated fingers, which are arranged alternately in sequence, based on the characteristic of the thickness decreases gradually structure of the MUT, the width of the electrodes and spacing between two adjacent electrodes in each unit are optimized individually. Namely, under the condition of ensuring penetration depth, the electrode width is made as large as possible to achieve maximum signal strength and detection sensitivity. Compared with the traditional ES-IDE structure capacitive proximity sensor, the newly designed VS-IDE capacitive sensor increases the effective electrode area, which increases the signal strength and measurement sensitivity directly. Besides, the electric field lines of the designed sensor are confined within the thickness gradually changed materials under test mostly as expected simultaneously. |
| US10027319B2 |
Circuit arrangement for controlling power transistors of a power converter
A circuit arrangement for controlling power transistors of a power converter includes a logic circuit configured to generate a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal and a clock generator configured to generate a clock signal. A first and a second isolator are configured to galvanically isolate transmission of the PWM signal and the clock signal into a high-voltage portion of the power converter so as to produce a galvanically isolated PWM signal and a galvanically isolated clock signal. The first isolator for the PWM signal is configured transmit both DC voltage signals and AC voltage signals. A correction circuit is configured to correct jitter of the galvanically isolated PWM signal based on the galvanically isolated clock signal. The second isolator for the clock signal exhibits a jitter lower than that of the first isolator by a factor of at least two. |
| US10027317B2 |
Systems, methods, and devices for bipolar high voltage direct current electrical power distribution
Systems, methods and devices for aircraft power distribution include a bipolar high voltage direct current source component; an electrical loading component capable of drawing electrical power from the bipolar high voltage direct current source component; a set of switching components configured to selectively couple power from the bipolar high voltage DC source component to the electrical loading; and a transient suppression component. The transient suppression component is configured to limit current flowing through the first or the second subset of the set of switching components when the first and the second subsets are not in the same state. |
| US10027314B2 |
Nonlinear transmission line high voltage pulse sharpening
Some embodiments include a high voltage nonlinear transmission line that includes a high voltage input configured to receive electrical pulses having a first peak voltage that is greater than 5 kV having a first rise time; a plurality of circuit elements electrically coupled with ground, each of the plurality of circuit elements includes a resistor and a nonlinear semiconductor junction capacitance device; a plurality of inductors, at least one of the plurality of inductors is electrically coupled between two circuit elements of the plurality of circuit elements; and a high voltage output providing a second peak voltage with a second rise time that is faster than the first rise time. |
| US10027313B2 |
Receiver, communication device, and communication method
To provide a receiver, a communication device, and a communication method capable of restoring a signal transmitted via a non-contact transmission channel with high accuracy. A communication device has a transmission circuit that converts an input signal into a pulse, a non-contact transmission channel that has a primary side coil and a secondary side coil and transmits the pulse from the transmission circuit in a non-contact manner, a restoration circuit that restores the input signal on the basis of a reception signal corresponding to the pulse transmitted via the non-contact transmission channel, an initialization unit that initializes an output of the non-contact transmission channel, and an initialization control unit that outputs a control signal of controlling the initialization unit on the basis of the reception signal corresponding to the pulse received via the non-contact transmission channel. |
| US10027312B2 |
Low temperature coefficient clock signal generator
A relaxation oscillator for generating a low temperature coefficient (LTC) clock signal includes a reference voltage generator and an oscillator. The reference voltage generator generates an LTC current and a bandgap reference voltage. The reference voltage generator includes positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistors to compensate for the effects of temperature variations. The oscillator receives the LTC current and the bandgap reference voltage, and generates a clock signal. In another embodiment, the reference voltage generator generates a charge current that varies with temperature. The oscillator receives the charge current and generates first and second output signals. Set and reset comparators include PTC resistors that determine the gains of the set and reset comparators. The PTC resistors compensate for variation in the first and second output signals due to the temperature variations by varying the gains of the set and reset comparators. |
| US10027311B1 |
Semiconductor device
To provide an inexpensive semiconductor device capable of suppressing the influence by crosstalk. A semiconductor device includes a signal wiring disposed in an organic interposer, an output circuit which is coupled to a first end of the signal wiring and which sets an impedance so as to generate a reflected wave antiphase to a waveform transmitted to the first end and periodically outputs data, and an input circuit which is coupled to a second end of the signal wiring and sets an impedance so as to generate a reflected wave of the same phase as a waveform transmitted to the second end. An average delay of the signal wiring is set to be 1/integer of 2 or more relative to a half of a cycle of the data. A difference between the maximum and minimum values of a delay of a signal at each of other signal wirings disposed in the organic interposer is set to be not greater than the average delay. |
| US10027309B2 |
Quartz crystal blank and quartz crystal resonator unit
A rectangular quartz crystal blank having long sides substantially parallel to a Z′ axis of the quartz crystal blank, and short sides substantially parallel to an X axis of the quartz crystal blank. The quartz crystal blank includes a first center region, a second region and a third region that are adjacent to the first region along a long-side direction, and a fourth region and a fifth region that are adjacent to the first region along a short-side direction. A thickness of the second region and a thickness of the third region are smaller than the thickness of the first region, and/or a thickness of the fourth region and a thickness of the fifth region are smaller than the thickness of the first region, and 16.18≤W/T≤16.97, where W is a length of a short side and T is a thickness. |
| US10027305B1 |
Filter including non-magnetic frequency selective limiters
A filter can be used in circuit. The filter includes a first stage including a first resonator configured to oscillate at a first fundamental frequency, a second resonator configured to oscillate at a second fundamental frequency, and a first nonlinear coupler for the first resonator and the second resonator. The second fundamental frequency being one half of the first fundamental frequency. The filter also includes a second stage including a third resonator, a fourth resonator, and a second nonlinear coupler for the third resonator and the fourth resonator. |
| US10027302B2 |
Audio interrupter alertness device for headphones
The audio interrupter device (2) interfaces between any audio source (1) and headphones (3) to alert the user to external environmental sounds that exceed a threshold by temporarily halting audio transmission. The threshold is adjustable either through an automatic adjustment option that bases the threshold on the ambient sound level or through manual sensitivity adjustment. The device includes an audio plug (11) and an audio jack (12) that are connected to analog switches (10) that have the ability to connect and disconnect their corresponding conductors. An audio signal from a microphone (4) is amplified and input to a microcontroller (7), which compares the audio signal sample value to the sound interrupting threshold. If the audio signal sample exceeds the threshold, the analog switches disconnect the corresponding conductors of the audio plug and audio jack. If the audio signal sample is below the threshold, the analog switches connect the corresponding conductors of the audio plug and audio jack and thereby allow the audio signal to be transmitted from the audio source to the headphones. |
| US10027301B2 |
Method and electronic device for controlling volume
An electronic device is provided. The electronic device may output a sound output event through a speaker at an output volume, generate a predicted input waveform based on the output sound event, compare a level of an input sound received via a microphone with a predicted level of the predicted input waveform, determine when a level of the input sound is lower than a threshold value for a predetermined time, and control the output volume of the sound output event when the level of the input sound is lower than the threshold value for the predetermined time. |
| US10027296B2 |
Architecture of a wideband distributed amplification device
A distributed amplification device with p inputs, p outputs, p amplification paths comprises a redundant reservoir of n amplifiers including n-p back-up amplifiers, an input redundancy ring and an output redundancy ring formed by rotary switches, the input and output redundancy rings sharing the same technology. The internal amplification pathways associated with the n-p back-up amplifiers frame in an interlaced manner the internal amplification pathways associated with the p nominal amplifiers and the amplification paths of the routing configurations each pass through at least five rotary switches. The input and output redundancy rings are topologically and geometrically configured and the family of the routing configurations is chosen such that the electrical lengths of all the paths of one and the same routing configuration of the family are equal. |
| US10027293B2 |
Amplifier for modulating the amplitude of an RF signal
An amplifier for modulating the amplitude of an RF signal, the amplifier including: a plurality of amplifier circuits, each circuit being connected to a first power source, each circuit including a charge storage device and an output across which a potential difference supplied by the first power source can be applied; a switching arrangement for switching connections between the first power source, the charge storage device, and the output in each amplifier circuit, wherein each circuit includes a first switched configuration in which the charge storage device is charged by the first power source and a second switched configuration in which the charge storage device, once charged, will apply an additional potential difference across the output. The amplifier is configured to vary the amplitude of the RF signal in proportion to the sum of the potential differences applied across the output in each amplifier circuit. |
| US10027290B2 |
Switchless line-DI/Mic pre-amplifier input
A switchless pre-amplifier input circuit includes an audio input connector that receives a first audio device operable at a first impedance and a second audio device operable at a second impedance less than the first impedance. A preamplifier circuit outputs a preamplified audio signal in response to amplifying a first audio signal generated by the first audio device or a second audio signal generated by the second audio device. The switchless pre-amplifier input circuit further includes a impedance selector circuit that adjusts an impedance at the output to reach the second impedance in response to connecting the second audio device to the audio input connector and to adjust the impedance at the output to reach the first impedance in response to connecting the first audio device to the audio input. |
| US10027286B2 |
Systems and methods to control transimpedance amplifier
A system to program parameters of one or more stages of a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) in an optical sub-assembly (e.g. TO-can package) is disclosed. With this invention, users have the option/flexibility to discretely program any of the stages of the TIA after production of the sub-assembly, i.e. they can still change the TIA settings once the TIA has been installed in a system and the system is in use. |
| US10027284B2 |
Modifiable signal adjustment devices for power amplifiers and corresponding methods and apparatus
An embodiment of an amplifier system includes a modifiable signal adjustment device with an RF signal adjustment circuit coupled between first and second nodes. The RF signal adjustment circuit includes an adjustable phase shifter and an adjustable attenuator coupled in series with each other. The device also includes a memory and a controller circuit. The controller circuit retrieves a phase shift value and an attenuation value from the memory. The controller circuit then controls the adjustable phase shifter to apply a phase shift corresponding to the phase shift value to an input RF signal received at the first node, and controls the adjustable attenuator to apply an attenuation corresponding to the attenuation value to the input RF signal. Applying the phase shift and the attenuation results in an output RF signal at the second node. |
| US10027283B2 |
Universal RF amplifier controller
Various methods and circuital arrangements for controlling an RF amplifier while reducing size, cost and power consumption are presented. Included is an amplifier controller unit that provides different current amplification stages that can be used for calibrating an output power of the RF amplifier based on a reference current. Order of the current amplification stages starting from the reference current allow reduction in size, cost and power consumption. |
| US10027275B2 |
Solar cell module and roof structure
An object is to provide a technique capable of making the appearance of the entire roof on which a solar cell module is laid more beautiful.In a solar cell module that includes a front side transparent plate, a rear face sealing plate made of glass, and a solar cell sealed between the front side transparent plate and the rear face sealing plate, the area of the rear face sealing plate is made larger than the light receiving area of the solar cell and the area of the front side transparent plate. That is, the glass plate that seals the rear side of the solar cell expands to the outer side with respect to the front side transparent plate located on the front face of the solar cell module. A surplus region in which neither the solar cell nor the front side transparent plate is present is formed on the front side of the rear face sealing plate. |
| US10027273B2 |
Plunger and puck mounting system for photovoltaic panels
A photovoltaic (PV) mounting hardware support system having a base portion. A foot has an elongated body adapted to connect to at least one PV module frame mounting component. A latch is located between the foot and the base portion and comprising first and second flexible flanges adapted to extend into fixed connection with the top portion of base portion. A plunger having first and second extensions, the plunger is located between the latch and the base portion and moveable from a first position to a second position. In the first position of the plunger, the first and second flexible flanges of the latch are not in fixed connection with the base portion. In the second position of the plunger, the first and second extensions of the plunger respectively apply forces to the first and second flexible flanges such that the first and second flexible flanges are placed into fixed connection with the base portion. |
| US10027269B2 |
Software-controlled electronic circuit for switching power to a three-phase motor
The circuit for controlling a rotating three-phase motor of the type having three interconnected motor coils each corresponding to one of three phases employs a plurality of switching circuit components, each connected to the motor to supply current to one of the coils. A signal generator circuit produces in synchronism with the rotation of the motor a variable duty cycle pulse-width modulated signal for each of the switching circuit components. A logic gating circuit is coupled to the signal generator circuit and to the switching components. The logic gating circuit is operative to cause the switching circuit components to selectively place pairs of motor coils in current conducting states such that when the variable duty cycle pulse-width modulated signals are each concurrently in the same logical on-off state, the logic gating circuit supplies a logical off state to each of the switching circuit components. |
| US10027268B2 |
Motor incorporating power converter, and air conditioner, water heater, and ventilation blower incorporating the motor
A motor incorporating a power converter including a printed board on which a semiconductor module (an inverter IC), which converts a voltage of an external power supply into a high-frequency voltage and supplies the high-frequency voltage to a stator, is mounted, wherein a high-voltage circuit ground, which is a power ground of a high-voltage main circuit system of the inverter IC, and a low-voltage circuit ground, which is a ground of a control circuit system, which is a low-voltage circuit, of the semiconductor module, are provided on the board, and the high-voltage circuit ground and the low-voltage circuit ground are connected at one point via a resistor. |
| US10027267B2 |
Exciter drive circuit including configurable flyback unit with fast energy field collapse
A power system includes an integrated drive generator (IDG) including an exciter field winding. A generator control unit (GCU) includes exciter drive circuit configured to electrically energize the exciter field winding, and a main stator configured to output voltage to at least one electrical load. The exciter drive circuit includes a dynamic flyback unit configured to selectively operate the exciter drive circuit between a first mode and a second mode different from the first mode based on a change in the at least one electrical load. |
| US10027266B2 |
Wind turbine generator system and method for operating a wind turbine generator system
The present invention concerns a method of controlling a wind power installation connected to an electric network having a generator with an aerodynamic rotor with an adjustable rotary speed, in which the wind power installation can be operated at an operating point which is optimum in relation to prevailing wind conditions at an optimum rotary speed, wherein the wind power installation is operated for a transitional period of time or lastingly at a non-optimum operating point at a non-optimum rotary speed and the non-optimum rotary speed is higher than the optimum rotary speed. |
| US10027259B2 |
Braking apparatus having function of detecting brake actuation and release faults
A braking apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is a braking apparatus for use in an electrical motor, and comprises a braking unit which locks the electrical motor in position, a voltage detection unit which detects a voltage applied to the braking unit, and an observing unit which recognizes a voltage variation pattern and, based on the voltage variation pattern, observes the released and actuated states of the braking unit. |
| US10027257B2 |
Interacting complex electric fields and static electric fields to effect motion
Systems and methods of interacting complex electric fields and static electric fields to effect motion are disclosed. An example method includes producing an action force having a reaction force perpendicular to the action force by interacting a relative velocity electric field based on charge of a moving first charged object and a static charge on a second charged object in a different inertial frame of reference. Another example method includes producing an action force having a reaction force perpendicular to the action force by interacting an acceleration generated electric field based on acceleration of a first charged object and a static charge on a second charged object in a different inertial frame of reference. Another example method includes producing an action force having a reaction force perpendicular to the action force by interacting a scalar electric potential and static electric field. |
| US10027256B2 |
Vibration power generation device
A vibration power generation device including a multiple-degree-of-freedom vibration system comprising a first vibration system and a second vibration system, wherein a natural frequency of the first vibration system is different from a natural frequency of the second vibration system. A first mass member of the first vibration system has a hollow structure including a housing space inside, where the second vibration system is housed. A power generating element is mounted on a plate spring of the second vibration system. A support part projects within the housing space, and one end side of the plate spring is attached to the support part and supported within the housing space at a position inward from a peripheral wall of the first mass member. A second mass member of the second vibration system is attached to another end side of the plate spring. |
| US10027253B2 |
Voltage source converter
In the field of high voltage direct current power transmission networks, a voltage source converter comprises first and second DC terminals for connection to a DC electrical network, and a plurality of single-phase limbs. Each single-phase limb includes a phase element, and each phase element includes at least one switching element configured to interconnect a DC voltage and an AC voltage. An AC side of each phase element is connectable to a respective phase of a multi-phase AC electrical network, and each single-phase limb is connected between the first and second DC terminals. The voltage source converter further comprises a controller configured to determine independently of one another an amount of active power (Pref) that the voltage source converter should exchange with the AC electrical network and an amount of reactive power (Qref) that the voltage source converter should exchange with the AC electrical network. |
| US10027252B2 |
Rotating electric machine system
A rotating electric machine system includes a rotating electric machine and an electric power conversion circuit. The rotating electric machine includes N coils connected with each other to define a neutral point therebetween. The electric power conversion circuit includes N high-side switches, N low-side switches, a selector switch, a full-wave driver, a half-wave driver and a drive controller. The full-wave driver performs a full-wave drive process with high potential-side terminals of the low-side switches respectively connected with low potential-side terminals of the high-side switches by the selector switch. The half-wave driver performs a half-wave drive process with the high potential-side terminals of the low-side switches connected with the neutral point by the selector switch. The drive controller controls both the full-wave driver and the half-wave driver to selectively cause either the full-wave driver to perform the full-wave drive process or the half-wave driver to perform the half-wave drive process. |
| US10027248B2 |
Electric power conversion circuit including switches and reactors, and electric power conversion device including electric power conversion circuit and control circuit
An electric power conversion circuit includes: a first leg including first and third switches; a second leg including second and fourth switches; a third leg including fifth and seventh switches; a fourth leg including sixth and eighth switches; a first reactor connected between a first node, in which the first and second legs are connected to each other, and a fifth node, in which the third and fourth legs are connected to each other; a second reactor connected between a second node to which the first and second legs are connected and a sixth node to which the third and fourth legs are connected; a first port terminal connected to the first node; a second port terminal connected to the sixth node; a third port terminal connected to a midpoint of each of the first and third legs; and a fourth port terminal connected to a midpoint of each of the second and fourth legs. |
| US10027246B2 |
Power semiconductor module and electric power conversion device
An object of the present invention is to achieve both low height and miniaturization of a double side cooling type electric power conversion device. A power semiconductor module according to the present invention includes: a circuit body including a power semiconductor device and a terminal; and a case forming an accommodation space for accommodating the circuit body, wherein the case includes: a first heat radiation portion and a second heat radiation portion disposed to face each other sandwiching the accommodation space; a first opening that is disposed at a side portion to the first heat radiation portion and through which the terminal passes; a sealing surface formed to surround the first opening; and a reference surface disposed at a side portion to the second heat radiation portion, and the reference surface is formed on a surface opposite to a surface on which the sealing surface of the case is disposed such that, when projection is performed from a vertical direction of the reference surface, a projection of the reference surface and a projection of the sealing surface overlap each other. |
| US10027239B2 |
Wind power converter device and converter device
A wind power converter device is provided. The wind power converter device includes grid side converters, generator side converters and a DC bus module. Each of the grid side converters includes grid side outputs electrically coupled to a grid and a first and a second DC inputs. Each two of the neighboring grid side converters are connected in series at the second and the first DC inputs. Each of the generator side converters includes generator side inputs electrically coupled to a generator device and a first and a second DC outputs. Each two of the neighboring generator side converters are coupled in series at the second and the first DC outputs. The DC bus module is electrically coupled between the grid side converters and the generator side converters. |
| US10027237B2 |
Self-oscillating resonant power converter
Resonant power converters and inverters include a self-oscillating feedback loop coupled from a switch output to a control input of a switching network comprising one or more semiconductor switches. The self-oscillating feedback loop sets a switching frequency of the power converter and comprises a first intrinsic switch capacitance coupled between a switch output and a control input of the switching network and a first inductor. The first inductor is coupled in-between a first bias voltage source and the control input of the switching network and has a substantially fixed inductance. The first bias voltage source is configured to generate an adjustable bias voltage applied to the first inductor. The output voltage of the power converter is controlled in a flexible and rapid manner by controlling the adjustable bias voltage. |
| US10027234B2 |
Power conversion device for performing power conversion between DC and DC by controlling switching of a semiconductor switching element
A power conversion device includes switching elements, a reactor, and capacitors in each of which plural capacitor elements are connected in parallel to each other. Then, a carrier frequency used for controlling switching of the switching elements is set so that it is less than series resonance frequencies of all of the capacitor elements in the capacitors, and integer multiples of that frequency are each not equal to a parallel resonance frequency. |
| US10027232B2 |
Motor bi-directional DC/DC converter and control method thereof
The present invention provides a bi-directional DC/DC converter and a control method thereof. The bi-directional DC/DC converter comprises a push-pull circuit, a chargeable and dischargeable device, a transformer, a half bridge circuit, a rectifying and filtering circuit and a first switch. The primary side of the transformer is connected to an output of the push-pull circuit. The output of the rectifying and filtering circuit is connected across a bridge arm of the half bridge circuit. The first switch is configured to connect the secondary side of the transformer to an input of the rectifying and filtering circuit, or to connect a part of windings of the secondary side of the transformer to an output of the half bridge circuit while disconnecting the part of windings of the secondary side of the transformer from two terminals of the input of the rectifying and filtering circuit. The bi-directional DC/DC converter of the present invention has fewer components and is low in cost. |
| US10027230B2 |
Converter with pulse width modulation and pulse frequency modulation operating modes
In accordance with an embodiment, a DC-DC converter is provided comprising a single regulation loop that drives a control circuit, wherein the control circuit selects between operation in a pulse width modulation operating mode and a pulse frequency modulation operating mode, the single regulation loop including a compensation loop, and wherein biasing of the compensation loop is maintained in response to selecting between the pulse width modulation and the pulse frequency modulation operating modes. |
| US10027227B2 |
Power supply with digitally variable slope compensation circuit
A power supply with digitally compensated circuit having a plurality of integrated circuits. The plurality of integrated circuits has a digitally variable slope controller to adjust charge time of an inductor and voltage distortion and an adjustable voltage generator, which generates a modified voltage set point. The digitally compensated circuit has a comparator, which compares the modified voltage set point to a first feedback and turns off a comparator output signal when first feedback approaches or exceeds the modified voltage set point. An adjustable pulse width modulator generator produces an output voltage. A current monitor receives output voltage and provides a second feedback, which is transferred to the plurality of integrated circuits. An inductor receives output voltage and generates variable output power for a load, utilizing the digitally variable slope controller to reduce oscillation, system disturbances, and subharmonic oscillations over a dynamic voltage input range. |
| US10027225B2 |
Switched mode power supply having a staircase current limit
Disclosed is switching power supply that includes a pulse frequency modulation (PFM) mode of operation current feedback control. A reference current source is configured to output a reference current at one of several selectable levels. The level of the reference current may vary during operation of the current feedback control loop. |
| US10027224B2 |
Charge pump stability control
An apparatus for power conversion includes a switching network that controls interconnections between pump capacitors in a capacitor network that has a terminal coupled to a current source, and a charge-management subsystem. In operation, the switching network causes the capacitor network to execute charge-pump operating cycles during each of which the capacitor network adopts different configurations in response to different configurations of the switching network. At the start of a first charge-pump operating cycle, each pump capacitor assumes a corresponding initial state. The charge-management subsystem restores each pump capacitor to the initial state by the start of a second charge-pump operating cycle that follows the first charge-pump operating cycle. |
| US10027220B2 |
Interleaved power supplies and corresponding control methods
According to some aspects of the present disclosure, example interleaved power supplies and corresponding control methods are disclosed. Example interleaved power supplies include an input terminal, an output terminal, and a first phase circuit coupled between the input terminal and the output terminal. The first phase circuit includes a first inductor and a first switch. The power supply also includes a second phase circuit coupled between the input terminal and the output terminal. The second phase circuit includes a second inductor and a second switch. The power supply further includes at least one current sensor, and a controller operable to control the first phase circuit and the second phase circuit in an interleaved mode when the sensed output current is below a current threshold and to control the first phase circuit and the second phase circuit in an in-phase mode when the output current is above the current threshold. |
| US10027219B1 |
Switching controller circuit
A switching controller circuit for a power converter includes analog and digital control circuits, a clock enable circuit, and a digital pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit. When the power converter is in a standby mode, the switching controller circuit operates in an analog control mode by activating the analog control circuit. When the power converter is not in standby mode, the switching controller circuit activates the digital control circuit and operates in a digital control mode. The switching controller circuit uses inexpensive electronic components and consumes less power in the analog control mode, thereby reducing standby mode power consumption. |
| US10027218B2 |
Power semiconductor element driving circuit
A power semiconductor device driving circuit has a capacitor whose one end is connected with a first or a second main electrode of a power semiconductor device, a first switch for charging the capacitor and a control electrode of the power semiconductor device with electric charges, and a second switch for discharging electric charges; in the case where when the first switch turns on, the control electrode and the capacitor are charged with electric charges through different resistors, electric charges are discharged from the control electrode and the capacitor through one and the same resistor when the second switch turns on; in the case where when the first switch turns on, the control electrode and the capacitor are charged with electric charges through one and the same resistor, electric charges are discharged from the control electrode and the capacitor through different resistors when the second switch turns on. |
| US10027215B2 |
Bistable electromagnetic actuator and surgical instrument
A bistable electromagnetic actuator including: a tube; a stator arranged outside of the tube; and a rotor mounted in the tube so as to be displaceable along the longitudinal axis, the rotor at least partially comprises one or more of a paramagnetic and a ferromagnetic material and can be reversibly displaced between a first position and a second position by applying an electromagnetic field; wherein the stator comprises two ring permanent magnets, a coil for producing the electromagnetic field, and a back-iron element having two stator pole shoes; and the two ring permanent magnets comprise hard magnetic particles that are embedded in a plastic matrix. |
| US10027212B2 |
Hollow brushless motor structure
A hollow brushless motor is provided. The hollow brushless motor includes a hollow shape rotor to be rotatable about a rotation axis, a hollow shape stator spaced apart from the rotor by a distance in a direction of the rotation axis and arranged to face the rotor, and a first support to maintain a gap between the rotor and the stator, and arranged between the rotor and the stator to support the rotor and the stator such that the rotor rotates with respect to the stator. |
| US10027211B2 |
Cage rotor of an asynchronous machine
A cage rotor of a rotary asynchronous machine includes an axially laminated core having substantially axially extending grooves, at least one electrical conductor disposed in the grooves and composed of at least of two partial conductors constructed from materials having different electrical conductivities and different mechanical strengths, wherein the partial conductor made of the higher-strength material is disposed radially farther outwardly at least in sections of the groove, as viewed along the axial extent of the respective, and a short-circuit ring arranged on a respective end face side of the laminated core and electrically-conductively interconnecting the electrical conductors that are disposed in the respective grooves and protrude axially from the laminated core. |
| US10027207B2 |
Shrink-fitting method for laminated rotor
A shrink-fitting method for a laminated rotor includes: disposing, coaxially with a laminated rotor core, an annular ring having a through-hole, at an axial end of the laminated rotor core including laminated annular steel sheets and having a through-hole extending in its axial direction; and inserting a rotor shaft into the through-holes of the ring and the laminated rotor core after heating them. A ring attachment jig having a circular internal space, where the ring is disposed, has projections projecting from an axial end surface thereof in the axial direction and arranged along a circumferential direction of the circular internal space. The center of the ring is aligned with the center of the laminated rotor core, by fitting the projections in attachment holes axially extending in the laminated rotor core, and fitting the ring to an inner peripheral surface of the ring attachment jig, which defines the circular internal space. |
| US10027205B2 |
Motor or generator apparatus with ionisable fluid-filled gap
Apparatus (10) for use as a motor or generator, comprising: a first part (20) defining a first region (22); a second part (40) moveable relative to the first part (20) and spaced therefrom to form a fluid-filled gap (50), the second part (40) defining a second region (42) separated from the first region (22) by the fluid-filled gap (50) and configured to be electrically connected to the first region (22) during at least one mode of operation; wherein the apparatus (10) is configured to form an electrically conductive path between the first and second regions (22, 42) by generating a region of electrically conductive fluid in the fluid-filled gap (50) between the first and second regions (22, 42). |
| US10027204B2 |
Method of connecting and disconnecting power to loads and a switching apparatus employing same
A motor control center having one or more control modules is disclosed. Each control module has a cabinet for enclosing therein a first contact set and a second contact set forming rotatable electricity conducting switches or contacts from the bus bars of the motor control center to a circuit breaker in the control module. An operation handle, extending from the cabinet, is used to operate the control module between different states. The operation handle is coupled to an operating mechanism in the cabinet. The operation handle sequentially operates the first contact set to couple to the bus and power a test circuit, the second contact set to couple the first contact set to the circuit breaker, and lastly to switch on the circuit breaker. |
| US10027201B2 |
Reciprocating tool
A reciprocating tool includes a motor, a reciprocating member, and a crank mechanism. The motor is disposed in a housing. The reciprocating member projects from the housing. The crank mechanism converts rotation of a rotation shaft of the motor into reciprocation of the reciprocating member. The crank mechanism rotates around an axis ma lateral direction by rotation transmission from the rotation, shaft, and the crank, mechanism includes a crank member having an eccentric pin, a connecting rod coupling the eccentric pin to the reciprocating member, and a balancer coupled to the eccentric pin, and the balancer is supported by the eccentric pin alone in the housing. |
| US10027200B2 |
Rotor including balancer weight and motor
A rotor capable of fixing a balancer weight by an easier method. The rotor includes a shaft; a core having a core hole penetrating the core in an axial direction; a rod configured to be inserted into the core hole so as to protrude from one end surface of the core in the axial direction to the one side in the axial direction; a balancer weight having a weight hole and placed on the end surface with the rod inserted into the weight hole; and a fixing member having a fixing hole and coming into contact with the balancer weight from the one side in the axial direction with the rod inserted into the fixing hole to fix the balancer weight by sandwiching the balancer weight with the end surface. |
| US10027197B2 |
Stator for rotary electric machine
A stator includes a stator core, a stator attachment and a plurality of segment coils. The stator core has a yoke portion, stator teeth and stator slots. The stator attachment is placed on an axial end surface of the stator core. The stator attachment includes attachment teeth, attachment slots and varnish guide faces. Each of the attachment slots communicates with an axial open end of each of the stator slots. The varnish guide faces approach an axially central side toward an attachment slot side in the radial direction. The segment coils are fixed to the stator core with varnish. Each segment coils includes plurality of conductor segments. The conductor segment is bent by making contact with the attachment teeth. |
| US10027190B2 |
Permanent magnet rotor having a combined laminated stack and method of assembly
A rotor for an electromagnetic apparatus including: ferromagnetic laminates stacked along a longitudinal axis of the rotor; non-magnetic laminates stacked along the longitudinal axis, wherein the non-magnetic laminates are between the ferromagnetic annular laminates; cavities in the rotor formed by aligned slots in the ferromagnetic and non-magnetic laminates, wherein the cavities are parallel to the axis of the rotor, and a permanent magnet(s) in each of the aligned cavities. The laminates may each be an annular disc or may be segments arranged in an annular array around a shaft of the rotor. |
| US10027188B2 |
Hand tool case holding device
A hand tool case holding device including a holding device housing, a case accommodating area, and a charging coil, which is provided for the purpose of transferring energy into a hand tool case situated in the case accommodating area. It is provided that the hand tool case holding device includes a holding device, which is provided for the purpose of detachably fixing at least the holding device housing independently of the hand tool case. |
| US10027184B2 |
Foreign object detection in wireless energy transfer systems
A wireless energy transfer system includes a foreign object debris detection system. The system includes at least one wireless energy transfer source configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field. The foreign object debris may be detected by at least one field gradiometer positioned in the oscillating magnetic field. The voltage of the at least one field gradiometer may be measured using readout circuitry and a feedback loop based on the readings from the gradiometers may be used to control the parameters of the wireless energy source. |
| US10027182B2 |
Wireless power transfer device, control method for wireless power transfer device and program
A wireless power transfer device includes a wireless power transfer unit that wirelessly transfers power to a plurality of other devices and a notification unit that provides notification that wireless power transfer to a third wireless power transfer device different from a second wireless power transfer device is not available or provides notification that the wireless power transfer to the third wireless power transfer device is available in the case where wireless power transfer to the second wireless power transfer device is performed. |
| US10027176B2 |
Electronic unit and feed system
An electronic unit includes: a power receiving section configured to receive electric power fed from a feed unit by using a magnetic field; and a control section configured to perform, when a receiving current supplied from the power receiving section is less than a predetermined threshold current at a time of a light load, current increasing control to increase the receiving current to the threshold current or more. |
| US10027175B2 |
Wireless power transfer system and wireless power transfer method
A wireless power transfer system including a plurality of power supply coils, and wirelessly performing power transfer from the power supply coils to a power receiver, includes an entire controller. The entire controller is configured to control the power transfer performed by wirelessly transmitting and receiving powers of the power supply coils and the power receiver, in accordance with confirming power transfer ranges of the plurality of power supply coils. |
| US10027174B2 |
Resonance-type contactless power supply and power receiver
The present disclosure relates to a resonance-type contactless power supply and a power receiver. A high-frequency power supply provides a high-frequency AC current with a predetermined frequency. A transmitter-side resonant circuit includes a transmitting coil for receiving the high-frequency AC current from the high-frequency power supply. A receiver-side resonant circuit includes a receiving coil which is separated from but coupled to the transmitting coil in contactless manner. The receiver-side resonant circuit receives electric energy from the transmitting coil. A receiver-side parallel capacitor is connected in parallel at an output terminal of the receiver-side resonant circuit. The receiver-side parallel capacitor has a capacitance value which is in inversely proportional to the product of a square of an angular frequency of the predetermined frequency and a predetermined mutual inductance. The predetermined mutual inductance is determined in a case that the transmitting coil and the receiving coil are coupled to each other in a predetermined coupling coefficient. The resonance-type contactless power supply provides a stable output voltage when operating in the predetermined frequency. |
| US10027166B2 |
Lighting system including a power backup device
A system is disclosed including, a light source; a converter configured to convert AC voltage to DC operating voltage; a power backup device coupled to the converter; a current source coupled to the power backup device, the current source being powered by the converter, the current source being configured to receive the DC operating voltage generated by the converter through the power backup device, and the current source being configured to output a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal to the light source based on the DC operating voltage; and a switching device coupled to the power backup device in parallel with the current source, the switching device being configured to couple the light source to the power backup device when the current source is disabled as a result of a supply of AC voltage to the converter being interrupted. |
| US10027162B2 |
Solar battery controller
A solar battery controller is provided which includes a solar battery module that is mounted on a moving object, a control unit that calculates a maximum power point of the solar battery module, and a speed detecting unit that detects a speed of the moving object. The control unit controls a maximum power point calculating timing depending on the speed of the moving object. |
| US10027160B2 |
Integration of wireless charging coil to a chassis
A method is provided for forming a wireless charging electronic device. An embodiment of the method includes integrating a coil and a collector plate to a chassis of the electronic device to wirelessly charge the electronic device. |
| US10027150B2 |
RFI/EMI shielding enclosure containing wireless charging element for personal electronic devices security
The invention provides an electromagnetically shielded enclosure for personal electronic device security, comprising a lower enclosure having a receiving space for at least one electronic devices disposed on a base portion of the lower enclosure. An upper lid is structurally engaging with the whole lower enclosure to form an electromagnetically shielding structure. A wireless charging element is configured on the lower enclosure for wirelessly charging to provide power to at least one electronic device. |
| US10027147B2 |
Methods and apparatus for a modular coil holder for an extended wireless charging roadway assembly
A holder configured to hold one or more components of a wireless charging power transfer system is provided. The apparatus comprises a first surface having one or more grooves configured to receive at least a portion of a conductor of a coil that spans the holder and at least one other holder, the coil configured to inductively transfer power via a magnetic field. The apparatus comprises one or more mechanical connectors configured to fasten the holder to the at least one other holder. The apparatus further comprises a plurality of transverse grooves on the first surface that extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of extension of the one or more grooves, the plurality of transverse grooves configured to guide the conductor of the coil from the holder to the at least one other holder. |
| US10027142B2 |
Power supply for critical railroad equipment
A power supply system for an electrical equipment comprises a first power supply module for supplying power to the electrical equipment, wherein the first power supply module is connectable to a first electrical network and is adapted for converting a first input current from the first electrical network to an output current suppliable to the electrical equipment; a second power supply module for supplying electrical power to the electrical equipment, wherein the second power supply module is connectable to a second electrical network of different frequency and/or different voltage as the first electrical network and is adapted for converting a second input current from the second electrical network to the output current, when the first power supply module is not able to converting the first input current; and an electrical energy storage for supplying electrical power to the electrical equipment, wherein the electrical energy storage is adapted for providing the output current, when the first and/or second power supply module is not able to convert the first and/or second input current. |
| US10027141B2 |
Battery control system, battery pack, electronic device
A measurement unit (200) measures voltages and currents of battery cells (100). A battery control unit (400) calculates a present estimation value of a residual capacity of the battery cells (100) by integrating the currents. The voltages of the battery cells (100) are set to a reference voltage value V1 serving as a trigger of a process of correcting the estimation value of the residual capacity and an alarm voltage value Va which is a voltage higher than the reference voltage value. In addition, the battery control unit (400) continues discharge of all the battery cells (100), as it is, when an alarm condition in which a voltage of a minimum capacity cell is equal to or less than the alarm voltage value is not satisfied, and outputs a first signal when the voltage of the minimum capacity cell satisfies the alarm condition. |
| US10027140B2 |
Battery pack
A method is provided for identifying a battery pack that is operably coupled to a battery charger. The method comprises: measuring voltage at a plurality of designated terminals of a first battery pack while the battery pack is coupled to the battery charger; determining how many of the designated terminals are connected to a reference voltage, such as battery positive; and identifying an attribute of the battery pack based on how many of the designated terminals are connected to the reference voltage. |
| US10027129B2 |
Redundant server system with an optimized failover arrangement
Methods and platforms may include a common bus, and a set of redundant power supply modules coupled to the common bus. Each power supply module can have a conversion circuit, an AC fault detector coupled to the conversion circuit, and a DC fault detector coupled to the conversion circuit. The platform may also include a system coupled to the common bus. |
| US10027126B2 |
Modulation and control methods for quasi-Z-source cascade multilevel inverters
The modulation methods for quasi-Z-source cascade multilevel inverters relate to control and signal modulation of quasi-Z-source cascade multilevel inverters, such as those used with photovoltaic power systems. The modulation methods for quasi-Z-source cascade multilevel inverters include a modular multilevel space vector modulation method for a photovoltaic quasi-Z-source cascade multilevel inverter for compensating for unequal voltages of separate photovoltaic modules, a pulse-width-amplitude modulation method for multilevel inverters for use in solar panel arrays attached to a three phase power grid, and a grid-connected control method for quasi-Z-source cascade multilevel inverter-based photovoltaic power generation for extracting maximum power from each Z-source cascade multilevel inverter. |
| US10027124B2 |
Electric power supply system controller
A controller has a predicting section which computes a predicted electric energy predicted to be supplied from a power distribution grid to the load during an assessment period which is a predetermined period. The controller has a supply electric energy computing section which computes a supply electric power based on the predicted electric energy, the supply electric energy being an electric energy to be supplied to the load from the electric power converter during the assessment period. The controller has a time computing section which computes a discharge time by dividing the supply electric energy by a rated power of the electric power converter. The controller has a control section which controls the electric power converter so that an electric power corresponding to the rated power is supplied to the load only for the discharge time within the assessment period. |
| US10027119B2 |
Decoupling synchrophasor based control system for multiple distributed energy resources
A method and system to control distributed energy resources in an electric power system includes generation, storage and controllable loads. The system uses time synchronized measurements of voltage phasor and current phasors and their derivative information that may include real and reactive power to regulate and decouple both static and dynamic effects of real and reactive power flow through the local electric power system connected to the area electric power system. The method and system provides precise real and reactive power demand set point pairs; damping of real and reactive power fluctuations in the local electric power system; decoupling between real and reactive power demand response set points by means of a multivariable control system that uses time synchronized measurements of voltage and current phasors and their derivative information. |
| US10027117B2 |
Multi-power factor controller
A multi-power factor controller including k measuring units, to which k loads and a power supply path are connected, each of the k measuring units being connected with each of the k loads and measuring a power factor calculation parameter of a connected load; n condensers; n contactors, each of the n contactors including k electromagnetic contactors, connected to the k loads and one of the condensers; n relay units, each of the n relay units having k relays, respectively connected to the k electromagnetic contactors, for deciding whether to turn on or off the electromagnetic contactors; and a multi-power factor control unit for controlling a corresponding relay to turn on the electromagnetic contactor to which the first condenser and the target load are connected. |
| US10027116B2 |
Adaptation of polyphase waveguide probes
Disclosed are various embodiments for transmitting energy conveyed in the form of a guided surface-waveguide mode along a lossy conducting medium such as, e.g., the surface of a terrestrial medium by exciting a polyphase waveguide probe. A probe control system can be used to adjust the polyphase waveguide probe based at least in part upon characteristics of the lossy conducting medium. |
| US10027110B2 |
Communicating with power switching devices
In one example, a method includes receiving, by a power switching device and via a connector of the power switching device, a signal that causes the power switching device to transition from a first operating mode to a second operating mode in which the power switching device consumes less current than the first operating mode. In this example, the method also includes, responsive to determining, while the power switching device is in the second operating mode, an occurrence of one or more events, outputting, by the power switching device and via the same connector of the power switching device, a signal that indicates the occurrence of the one or more events. |
| US10027108B2 |
Surge reduction filter
A surge reduction filter (SRF) includes a cartridge having a cartridge housing, a first active connection point for connection to an active line of an AC power supply, and a neutral connection point for connection to a neutral line of the AC power supply. The active and neutral connection points are located to be accessible from outside the cartridge. A first fuse and a first surge protection element are electrically connected in series between the active and neutral connection points. A status circuit is connected to monitor the surge protection element and an indicator is connected to the status circuit to indicate at least a normal status and a fault status of the surge protection element. The status circuit detects a change in voltage at a point between the fuse and the protection element and creates a fault indication if a voltage change is detected due to the fuse operating. |
| US10027106B2 |
Power supply unit for the provision of at least one switchable power output
The invention relates to a power supply unit for the provision of at least one switchable power output, having at least one power input UIN, at least one voltage measuring device that monitors the voltage at the at least one power input UIN, wherein, if the input voltage falls below a defined threshold Uthres or if the change in the input voltage UIN per unit of time rises above a defined threshold ΔUthres/Δt, the power output/power outputs is/are switched off and the input voltage is then measured at a first timepoint t1, and, after a first predetermined time (td1) (S240), the input voltage U is measured again at a second timepoint t2, and if the input voltage at the second timepoint is greater than the input voltage at the first timepoint, it is assumed that a short circuit is present at at least one power output. |
| US10027103B2 |
Protection device for electrical network
A device for protecting a medium or high voltage electrical network is provided, including a base part connected to means for measuring values representative of the electrical network and to a trip circuit of the electrical network, an active part that includes means for analogue-digital conversion of the values representative of the electrical network and which is mechanically and electrically connected to the base part in a first position referred to as the normal position, and a removable test part that is mechanically and electrically connected to the active part in a second position referred to as the test position. The test part includes means for mechanically and electrically connecting to the base part such that, in the test position, external terminals of the test part are connected to the trip circuit through the base part. |
| US10027100B1 |
Electrical connection box and wire harness
An electrical connection box and a wire harness is provided with a casing including: a frame and an upper cover that are assembled to each other and that define a housing space portion; and insertion ports that are formed by opening a boundary edge of the frame or the upper cover to cause a conductive wiring material to be inserted through each of the insertion ports. The frame includes a pair of holding pieces that are provided on both sides of the insertion ports, the pair of holding pieces having flexibility in a clipping direction, and clipping and holding the wiring material. The upper cover includes a supporting projection rib that supports the pair of holding pieces at the side opposite from the wiring material, while the frame and the upper cover are assembled to each other. |
| US10027096B2 |
Shutter interlock devices, systems, and methods of use thereof
A shutter interlock device for an electrical enclosure includes a shutter link defining a lock slot, an actuating member rotatably coupled to the electrical enclosure, and a sliding link. The sliding link includes a first end coupled to the actuating member, a second end opposite the first end, and a pin coupled to the second end, where a rotation of the actuating member causes the pin to selectively disengage the lock slot. |
| US10027094B2 |
Power module, power converter and drive arrangement with a power module
A power module for a power converter includes a first busbar with a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, a first semiconductor component on the first surface of the first busbar, which semiconductor component has a first surface with a first electrical surface contact connection and is connected, via the first surface contact connection, to the first surface of the first busbar in an electrically conductive and mechanical fashion over an area, and a second semiconductor component on the second surface of the first busbar, which semiconductor component has a first surface with a first electrical surface contact connection and is connected, via the first surface contact connection of the second semiconductor component, to the second surface of the first busbar in an electrically conductive and mechanical fashion over an area. |
| US10027093B2 |
Spark plug
A spark plug includes an insulator having an axial hole formed in a direction of an axis, a center electrode held in one end side of the axial hole, a metal terminal held in the other end side of the axial hole, an electrical connection part arranged to establish electrical connection between the center electrode and the metal terminal within the axial hole, and a metal shell disposed around an outer circumference of the insulator and having a thread portion formed on at least a part of an outer circumferential surface thereof. The electrical connection part has a resistor, and a conductive seal layer provided between the resistor and the center electrode to seal and fix the insulator and the center electrode together. In a half or more of a region in which the seal layer is provided in the direction of the axis, the spark plug satisfies predetermined conditions. |
| US10027088B2 |
Integrated semiconductor optical element and manufacturing method for same
The present invention relates to an optical semiconductor integrated element and manufacturing method for same solves difficulty in element manufacture, and reduces optical transmission loss. The present invention is provided with a stripe-shaped waveguide configured from a multilayer structure wherein at least a first conductivity-type lower cladding layer, a waveguide core layer, and an upper cladding layer are layered, and the upper cladding layer is formed using a second conductivity-type upper cladding layer, and an i-type upper cladding layer, which has a bent portion by being shifted in the perpendicular direction with respect to the main extending direction of the waveguide. |
| US10027085B2 |
Saturable absorbers for Q-switching of middle infrared laser cavities
A Q-switched laser includes a laser cavity including a cavity mirror and an output coupler mirror. The Q-switched laser also includes a doped laser gain material disposed in the laser cavity and a Q-switch including a saturable absorber comprising Fe2+:ZnSe or Fe2+:ZnS. |
| US10027084B2 |
Alignment system and extreme ultraviolet light generation system
An alignment system for a laser apparatus includes a guide laser device outputting a guide laser beam, an adjusting mechanism adjusting travel directions of the guide laser beam and a laser beam from the laser apparatus, a beam path combiner controlling travel directions of the laser beam and the guide laser beam to substantially coincide with each other, a first optical detection unit provided from the beam path combiner detecting the laser and guide laser beams, a first controller controlling the adjusting mechanism based on a first optical detection unit detection result, a beam steering unit downstream from the beam path combiner controlling travel directions of the laser and guide laser beams, a second optical detection unit downstream from the beam steering unit detecting the guide laser beam, and a second controller controlling the beam steering unit based on a second optical detection unit detection result. |
| US10027083B2 |
Amplifying pulsed laser radiation for EUV radiation production
Systems, methods, and apparatus, including non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, for amplifying pulsed laser radiation in an EUV laser driver are provided. An example EUV laser driver includes a beam source configured to produce the pulsed laser radiation with at least one laser frequency, an amplifier arrangement with at least one optical amplifier for amplifying the pulsed laser radiation, the at least one optical amplifier having a frequency-dependent gain with a maximum gain at a maximum frequency, at least one frequency shifter configured to produce a frequency shift for the laser frequency of the pulsed laser radiation relative to the maximum frequency, and a controller configured to set the frequency shift such that a gain of the at least one optical amplifier for the pulsed laser radiation is reduced to less than a percentage, e.g., 90%, 70%, or 50%, of the maximum gain. |
| US10027081B2 |
Method of stranded electrical wire connection
A method of stranded electrical wire connection involves stripping the insulation of the ends of stranded wire and inserting a compression member over the ends of the wire, and applying constant, irreversible ratcheting pressure to the compression member to compress the compression member over each end of the stranded wires. The compressed stranded wires and compression member are then inserted into a tube connector which is filled with a dielectric gel. The tube connector has a cover with a snap connector member. When the compressed wire connection is fully encased within the connector tube, the cover is closed over the top of the connector tube and snapped and locked shut, to ensure for a waterproof electrical connection. |
| US10027080B2 |
Cable with multiple electrical connectors
A cable with ends having a body portion enabling rotatable electrical connector plugs to be deployed from a stored position to a ready position. The configuration of the body portion enables the connector plug to be electrically active only in the deployed ready position. The rotation mechanism provides tactile locking sensation. The design of the present cable enables multiple permutations of connector plugs to be provided on either the alpha or beta end of the cable. |
| US10027078B2 |
Slide battery and power tool for use with both slide and post batteries
Batteries having different form factors and power tools that are capable of using such batteries are described. In some embodiments, a power tool may use batteries having a post form factor as well as batteries having a slide form factor. |
| US10027075B2 |
Laser direct structured connection for intravascular device
The invention generally relates to intravascular imaging catheters and methods of making catheters for imaging systems. The invention provides a connector for an imaging catheter that includes a unitary body with very thin electrical contacts that are formed on the surface of the body. Due to the scale of the contacts, the connector operates essentially as a single unitary piece of material. Each of the leads may be less than about 100 μm wide and less than about 8 μm thick, and further the leads may be spaced apart by less than about 160 μm. |
| US10027073B2 |
Coaxial connector with electromagnetic shield
The coaxial connector is provided with a contact, an internal housing, a shell and an electromagnetic shield plate. The contact has a connecting portion which can connect with a mating side contact, and a crimping portion which crimps the central conductor. The internal housing has a contact receiving chamber opened at a rear end portion, and the connector is retained in the contact receiving chamber. The shell has a shell main body covering an external perimeter of the internal housing, and a cable clamp. The cable clamp fixes an end of the coaxial cable. The shell main body has a lock piece. A pair of slits is provided at both sides of the lock piece. The electromagnetic shield plate is disposed at an upper face of the internal housing, and has one piece which shields a portion of the pair of slits with respect to the internal housing. |
| US10027067B2 |
Hazardous area coupler device for high frequency signals
A hazardous area coupler is provided which uses arrays of diodes to permit low voltage alternating current signals to pass through while shunting to ground any voltages greater than the clamping voltage of the diodes. |
| US10027063B2 |
Composite connector
A composite connector, including: a first insulating body and a second insulating body, respectively having a first tongue plate and a second tongue plate arranged at the front ends thereof; multiple terminals respectively fixed on the first and second insulating bodies and exposed from surfaces of the first and second tongue plates; a first shielding sheet and a second shielding sheet which are integrally formed, fixed in the first and second tongue plates respectively and are positioned on one side of the terminals; and a metal shell forming a first insertion opening and a second insertion opening around the first and second tongue plates respectively. The first insertion opening is configured for insertion of a first docking connector. The second insertion opening is configured for insertion of a second docking connector. A combination of the first and second insertion openings are configured for insertion of a third docking connector. |
| US10027059B2 |
Twist-lock electrical connector
A twist-lock electrical connector includes first and second connector portions each having a respective interface end portion and longitudinal axes. The first connector has a projection and the second connector has a corresponding bore along the connectors' respective longitudinal axes. Two electrical contacts are located at opposite sides of the projection at the first interface end portion, and two other electrical contacts are located at opposite sides of the bore at the second interface end portion. The interface end portions are configured to engage one another at a first rotational orientation in which the bore receives the projection when the first and second longitudinal axes are made substantially coaxial and the connector portions are brought together along their axes. The interface end portions further engage one another at a second rotational orientation in which the first pair of electrical contacts electrically engage the second pair of electrical contacts. |
| US10027054B2 |
Connector having integrated housing and shield shell
A connector includes a female terminal; a female housing; a shield shell which is formed in a tubular conductive material in which both ends are opened, the shield shell being integrated with the female housing in a state in which at least one of an outer circumferential side and an inner circumferential side of an end portion on an insertion direction side to the male connector is exposed as an annular exposed surface, and the female terminal and/or the electric wire being disposed inside the shield shell; and a sealing member which has a tubular sealing portion interposed between the male housing of the fitted male connector or the shield shell and the exposed surface as a seal side exposed surface opposed to the male housing or the shield shell, and suppresses entry of liquid therebetween by the sealing member. |
| US10027050B2 |
Inner housing for electrical connector terminal cavity
An electrical connector assembly includes an electrical connector that defines a terminal cavity. The terminal cavity extends from an insertion opening to a mating opening. An inner housing is positioned in the terminal cavity. The inner housing defines an inner cavity. The inner cavity extends from an inner insertion opening to an inner mating opening. The inner mating opening is adjacent to the mating opening of the electrical connector. An electrical terminal is positioned in the inner cavity. A mating portion of the electrical terminal is adjacent the inner mating opening. |
| US10027046B1 |
Receptacle connector with stub-less contacts
A receptacle connector includes a housing and a plurality of contacts held in the housing. The housing extends between a front end and an opposite, rear end. The housing defines a card slot that is open at the front end for receiving a mating plug connector into the card slot through the front end. The contacts include deflectable spring beams exposed in the card slot and configured for electrical connection with the plug connector. Each of the spring beams extends continuously from an arm to a distal tip. The spring beams include bends between the arms and the distal tips. The bends are located at front ends of the contacts such that the distal tips and the arms of the spring beams are disposed rearward of the bends. |
| US10027041B2 |
Electrical apparatus having a push-in connection terminal with a support clip guiding and limiting the elastic deformation of the contact spring
An electrical apparatus such as an electrical contactor or a terminal block, comprises a casing made of an electrically insulating material, a conductive bar mounted in the casing and at least one push-in type connection terminal. The terminal comprises a contact spring having an elastic portion undergoing an elastic deformation under the action of an external force applied on the contact spring either by an electrical conductor during its insertion at a first aperture of the casing so as to place the electrical conductor in a contact position located between the contact spring and the conductive bar in order to establish an electrical connection between the electrical conductor and the conductive bar, or by a tool inserted into a second aperture of the casing so as to open the contact spring and release the electrical conductor in order to remove it out of its contact position. The electrical apparatus comprises a support clip independent of the casing and of the conductive bar. The clip comprises fastening elements allowing mounting of the support clip on the contact spring and delimits a bearing face against which the contact spring bears during the deformation of its elastic portion under the action of the external force in order to impose the manner in which the elastic portion spatially deforms and against which the contact spring abuts in its maximum deformation state in order to limit the elastic deformation of the elastic portion of the contact spring below a predetermined value regardless of the intensity of the external force. |
| US10027039B1 |
Threadless grounding bushing with removable spacer
A threadless grounding bushing for placement on an end of an EMT or rigid electrical conduit has a bushing body with a first portion with an inner smooth cylindrical surface dimensioned for receipt of a rigid conduit; a second portion with a central bore for the passage of conductors therethrough, the second portion dimensioned to form a stop relative to a terminating end of a rigid conduit or EMT received in the first portion; at least one set screw that extends through the first portion to make contact with the EMT or rigid conduit; a lug secured to the bushing body having an opening to secure a ground conductor thereto; and a removable spacer with an inner surface corresponding to the outer surface of an EMT and having an outer surface corresponding to the inner smooth cylindrical surface of the first portion of the bushing body. |
| US10027037B2 |
Terminal with reduced normal force
An embodiment is directed to a receptacle terminal for receipt of a mating terminal therein. The receptacle terminal includes a contact portion which has a bottom wall and resilient contact arms. The resilient contact arms extend from opposed sides of the bottom wall. Each of the resilient contact arms has an opening extending therethrough with a first resilient contact section and a second resilient contact section extending on either side of the opening. The first resilient contact sections and the second resilient contact sections have arcuate portions which extend from the bottom wall to mating terminal engaging members. The first resilient contact sections and the second resilient contact sections generate a contact force when a mating terminal is inserted into the terminal. |
| US10027036B2 |
Antenna array and method for synthesizing antenna patterns
An antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements is disclosed. The antenna array comprises: a plurality of transceiver modules; an active antenna element subset of the plurality of antenna elements, wherein the active antenna element subset comprises at least one active antenna element being actively coupled to an associated transceiver module of the plurality of transceiver modules; and at least one passively combined sub-array of at least two antenna elements of the plurality of antenna elements. A method for generating antenna patterns with the antenna array is also disclosed. |
| US10027032B2 |
Waveguide device and antenna device including the waveguide device
A waveguide device includes: a first conductive member having an electrically conductive surface; a second conductive member having a plurality of electrically conductive rods arrayed thereon, each conductive rod having a leading end opposing the conductive surface; and a waveguide member having an electrically conductive waveguide face opposing the conductive surface, the waveguide member being disposed among the conductive rods and extending along the conductive surface. The waveguide member includes at least one of a bend and a branching portion. A measure of an outer shape of a cross section of at least one of the plurality of conductive rods that is adjacent to the bend or the branching portion, taken perpendicular to an axial direction of the at least one conductive rod, monotonically decreases from a root that is in contact with the second conductive member toward a leading end. |
| US10027026B2 |
Programmable beamforming system including element-level analog channelizer
A beamforming system includes a plurality of channelizers and a channel switching module in signal communication with the channelizers. Each channelizer is configured to receive a respective input radio frequency signal and to generate a plurality of respective channels in response to downsampling the respective input radio frequency signal. The channel switching module includes a channel combining circuit configured to selectively combine a common channel generated by each channelizer to form at least one steered analog beam. |
| US10027023B1 |
Embedded multi-band antenna in a band of a wearable electronic device
Antenna structures and methods of operating the same of an electronic device are described. One wearable electronic device includes a housing of conductive material and an antenna structure disposed on or within a band that is used to affix to a user. The antenna structure includes a first connector, a second connector, and a first antenna element. The first and second connectors extend out from sides of the band and electrically couple to a RF feed and a ground point when the first and second connectors are physically coupled to the housing. The RF circuitry is operable to cause a first current flow on at least the first antenna element via the first connector to radiate electromagnetic energy in a first frequency range. |
| US10027022B2 |
Antenna for wireless communication system and method for fixing antenna oscillator to reflector
The present disclosure relates to an antenna for a wireless communication system. The antenna comprises a reflector having a front side for transmitting a signal and a back side opposite to the front side; an antenna oscillator disposed on the front side of the reflector; a phase shifter network disposed on the back side of the reflector; and an antenna oscillator fixing apparatus disposed on the front side of the reflector and configured to fix the antenna oscillator to the front side of the reflector. In addition, the present disclosure also relates to a method for fixing an antenna oscillator to a reflector. With the antenna and the fixing method according to the present disclosure, it is possible to manufacture an antenna with an antenna oscillator that is easy to dismantle without damaging an existing phase shifter network, which will improve maintainability of the antenna according to the present disclosure dramatically and also reduce the cost of maintenance and repairs. |
| US10027020B2 |
Near field communication antenna and smartphone having antenna
A near field communication (NFC) antenna and a smartphone having the antenna are disclosed. The present disclosure provides a parallel stacked NFC antenna, of a smartphone, suitable for NFC communication. In addition, provided is a component arrangement structure capable of performing effective NFC communication by determining the location of the NFC antenna on the basis of the location of a slit arranged in a metal housing, and a battery. |
| US10027019B2 |
Antenna using conductor and electronic device therefor
The present disclosure provides an antenna device, including a housing having accommodating space and an LDS antenna accommodated in the hosing, the housing includes a metal shell, a metal cover and a metal ring which cooperate and are spaced with each other, wherein inner walls of the metal shell, the metal cover and the metal ring are respectively provided with an adhesive coated layer, the adhesive coated layer includes an adhesive coated layer body, a groove provided at a side of the adhesive coated layer body far away from the metal cover, and a modified layer assembled in the groove, the LDS antenna is laser etched on the modified layer and is coupled with the metal cover. The antenna device of the present disclosure avoids frequency offset caused by gap size difference due to assembling errors between coupled antennas, so that the coupled antennas show better performance and consistency. |
| US10027014B2 |
Antenna apparatus and vehicle using the same
An antenna apparatus includes a first antenna unit inclined at a first inclination angle, a second antenna unit inclined in a direction opposite to the first antenna unit at a second inclination angle. A distribution unit distributes an electrical signal to one of the first antenna unit and the second antenna unit. |
| US10027013B2 |
Collar-mountable bobbin antenna having coil and ferrite slots
A collar-mountable antenna for transmitting and receiving signals in a downhole environment, in at least some embodiments, comprises a bobbin having an inner surface and an outer surface, each of the inner and outer surfaces defining multiple slots, conductive wire disposed within the multiple slots on the outer surface of the bobbin, and ferrite disposed within the multiple slots on the inner surface of the bobbin. |
| US10027008B2 |
Irreversible circuit element and module
An irreversible circuit element includes first and second high pass isolators each including first and second center electrodes intersecting with and being insulated from each other on a ferrite to which a direct-current magnetic field is applied with a permanent magnet. One end of the first center electrode is an output port and the other end thereof is an input port, and one end of the second center electrode is another output port and the other end thereof is a ground port. A pass frequency band of the first isolator is higher than a pass frequency band of the second isolator. Respective output portions of the first and second isolators are electrically connected and defined as one output terminal, and a low pass filter LPF is inserted between the output terminal and the output port of the second isolator. |
| US10027007B2 |
Multi-band RF monoblock filter having first and third filters in a co-linear relationship and first and second filters in a side-by-side relationship
A multi-band RF monoblock filter including at least three RF signal filters defined in the monoblock of dielectric material by resonators defined in part by through-holes extending through the block. In one embodiment, two of the RF signal filters are in a co-linear and side-by-side relationship and the third filter is in a parallel and side-by side relationship with one of the two other RF signal filters. A pattern of conductive material defines two end and one interior RF signal input/output on the block top surface. The end RF signal input/outputs are located at opposite ends of the block and the central RF signal input/output is located between the two co-linear and side-by-side RF filters. An RF signal is transmitted through the one end RF signal input/output, the two parallel and side-by-side RF signal filters, and the central RF signal input/output and also through the other end RF signal input/output, one of the co-linear and side-by-side RF filters, and the central RF signal input/output. |
| US10027002B2 |
Vehicle battery pack with improved cooling efficiency
The present disclosure discloses a battery pack for a vehicle. The battery pack according to the present disclosure includes at least one secondary battery including a negative electrode plate, a separator, and a positive electrode plate, and at least one cooling pin which comes into contact with a casing of the secondary battery to cool the secondary battery, wherein at least one end of the cooling pin comes into contact with a car body. The cooling pin dissipates heat generated from the secondary battery through the car body. Thus, the need for a separator refrigerant, a movement channel of a refrigerant, and a pump is eliminated. |
| US10027000B2 |
System of accumulator batteries with more reliable voltage measurement
An accumulator battery system includes series-connected accumulators with potentials across stages powering corresponding controllers that measure potential differences between terminals of accumulators. A first analog-to-digital converter encodes the potential measured between terminals of an accumulator. A first output delivers a first digital sequence corresponding to the encoded potential difference, logic levels of which are defined by at least two potentials across the first-stage accumulator terminals. A decoder decodes a potential measured by the first control-device from the first digital sequence. A second analog-to-digital converter selectively encodes a potential difference measured between terminals of a second-stage accumulator of the second stage and two potentials of the digital sequence received on the input. A second control-device processor extrapolates a potential difference across the first-stage accumulator terminal of the first stage based on two potentials of the received digital sequence. |
| US10026998B2 |
Electric vehicle operation to manage battery capacity
Battery state of charge control systems and methods provide techniques to assist in managing battery capacity and battery life under various environmental, operating, and storage conditions. Dynamic management of desired battery SOC based on one or more parameters associated with usage patterns and environmental conditions, e.g., charge/discharge patterns, state of charge and/or temperature during storage may extend useful battery life. The present techniques can provide active state of charge monitoring and control to manage battery capacity during storage or other periods of non-use over the battery life to enhance battery performance. |
| US10026996B2 |
Molten alkali metal-aluminum secondary battery
An aluminum-based cathode (positive electrode) for storage cells formed by deposition of a layer of aluminum metal on a porous conductive substrate. Storage cells and batteries having the cathode. The porous conducting substrate can be metal, conductive carbon or a refractory material, such as a metal boride or metal carbide. The aluminum-deposited porous substrate is in electrical contact with a cathode current collector and a suitable liquid catholyte. The cathode is, for example, combined with a molten alkali metal anode to form a storage cell. The alkali metal and the catholyte are molten or liquid at operating temperatures of the cell. Methods of storing energy and generating energy using cell having the aluminum-based cathode are provided. |
| US10026994B2 |
Stepped electrode assembly
Disclosed herein is an electrode assembly including two or more electrode plates, each of which has electrode tabs, and a separator plate disposed between the electrode plates and/or a one-unit separation sheet disposed between the electrode plates to cover side surfaces of the electrode plates, which constitute an electrode tab non-formation region, wherein the electrode plates are stacked in a height direction on the basis of a plane such that the electrode plates having opposite polarities face each other in a state in which the separator plate and/or the separation sheet is disposed between the electrode plates, a stack constituted by the electrode plates includes electrode plates having different sizes, and an absolute value of the difference in thickness between the electrode plates having different sizes facing each other is 0 to 79 μm. |
| US10026990B2 |
Lithium-ion conductive garnet and method of making membranes thereof
A gallium doped garnet composition of the formula: Li7-3yLa3Zr2GayO12 where y is from 0.4 to 2.0, and as defined herein. Also disclosed is a method for making a dense Li-ion conductive cubic garnet membrane, comprising one of two alternative lower temperature routes, as defined herein. |
| US10026985B2 |
Apparatus for activating membrane electrode assembly for fuel cells
An apparatus for activating a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for fuel cells includes: a frame. A plurality of separation plates are disposed on an upper side of a base plate, which is disposed on a top portion of the frame, to move straightly in a length direction. The plurality of separation plates are spaced apart from each other with the MEA interposed therebetween in the direction in which the separation plates move. A tilt unit, which is connected to the frame and the base plate, upwardly tilt the base plate with respect to the frame and remove a coolant generated when the MEA is activated. |
| US10026984B2 |
Multi-electron redox active molecules for energy storage applications
A non-aqueous redox flow battery includes a catholyte including a compound of formula (I) or a compound of formula (II): Where X1 is a moiety of formula I-A or I-B: |
| US10026979B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling fuel cell system using reconfigurable switch network
Disclosed herein is an apparatus for controlling a fuel cell system, which includes multiple hot boxes including multiple fuel cell stacks, using a reconfigurable network having linear switching complexity, includes: a power conversion system for supplying outputs of normal stacks among the multiple fuel cell stacks to a load; at least one auxiliary power conversion system for supplying an output of at least one deteriorated stack among the multiple stacks to a load; a reconfigurable switch network for connecting in series or in parallel stacks of any hot box to stacks of another hot box; and a control unit for controlling an operation of the reconfigurable switch network by detecting a state of each of the stacks. |
| US10026978B2 |
Method of generating electricity with a fuel cell; associated device
A method of generating electricity with a fuel cell includes a phase in which the cell is primed; and a phase in which the cell functions at a stable rate, during which the cell, fed with a hydrogenated gas, generates electricity and heat. In order to prime the cell, it is fed with a hydrogenated gas including at least 70 vol. % hydrogen, generated by self-sustaining combustion of at least one hydrogenated gas-generating solid pyrotechnic charge; and while it is operating at a stable rate, the cell is fed with a hydrogenated gas containing at least 85 vol. % hydrogen, generated by thermal decomposition of at least one hydrogenated gas-generating solid pyrotechnic charge; a portion of the heat produced by the operating cell being transferred to the at least one solid charge in order to start and maintain the thermal decomposition thereof. |
| US10026977B2 |
Humidification device for humidifying process gases and fuel cell arrangement comprising same
A humidification device for humidifying process gases, in particular for fuel cells, having a stack of repeating components, including a steam-permeable membrane, a first layer arrangement arranged on a first side of the membrane having a first flow layer for conducting a process gas to be humidified, a multiplicity of flow channels running parallel to the membrane, a second layer arrangement arranged on a second side of the membrane having a second flow layer for conducting a humidified gas including a multiplicity of flow channels running parallel to the membrane, and two protective films which adjoin the second flow layer on both sides and have a multiplicity of through-openings. |
| US10026976B2 |
Humidifier for fuel cell system
A humidifier for a fuel cell system is provided to improve humidification efficiency of a hollow fiber improving a gas flow inside a membrane module into which tube side air and moist air are introduced. The humidifier includes a membrane module in which hollow fibers are fixed inside a case in a bundle form and a first manifold and a second manifold each assembled at both ends of the case. An inside of the membrane module includes a tube side air supply tube which forms a gas flow in the same direction as the hollow fiber and one side of the tube side air supply tube includes at least one moist air pumping part configured to suction moist air flowing in an exterior of the tube side air supply tube by a flow velocity and a flow pressure of tube side air. |
| US10026972B2 |
Fuel cell system with interconnect
The present invention includes an integrated planar, series connected fuel cell system having electrochemical cells electrically connected via interconnects, wherein the anodes of the electrochemical cells are protected against Ni loss and migration via an engineered porous anode barrier layer. |
| US10026970B1 |
Oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalyst
The oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalyst is a Pt/N/C electrocatalyst that provides an efficient ORR catalyst suitable for use in polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells, for example. The oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalyst is in the form of platinum nanoparticles embedded in a nitrogen-enriched mesoporous carbon matrix, particularly a nitrogen-enriched graphite matrix. The nitrogen-enriched graphite matrix has an average surface area of 240.4 m2/g, and the platinum nanoparticles each have an average diameter between 10 nm and 12 nm. |
| US10026968B2 |
Method for producing fuel cell electrode catalyst
A method for producing a fuel cell electrode catalyst, including a step (I) of bringing an aqueous solution of a transition metal compound (1) into contact with ammonia and/or ammonia water to generate a precipitate (A) containing an atom of the transition metal, a step (II) of mixing at least the precipitate (A), an organic compound (B), and a liquid medium (C) to obtain a catalyst precursor liquid, and a step (IV) of subjecting the solid in the catalyst precursor liquid to heat treatment at a temperature of 500 to 1200° C. to obtain an electrode catalyst; a portion or the entirety of the transition metal compound (1) being a compound containing a transition metal element of group 4 or group 5 of the periodic table; and the organic compound (B) being at least one selected from sugars and the like. |
| US10026964B2 |
Positive electrode for rechargeable lithium battery, and winding element rechargeable lithium battery
A positive electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery includes a positive current collector; a high elastic modulus layer on the positive current collector and including a first positive active material and a high elastic modulus binder; and a low elastic modulus layer on the high elastic modulus layer and including a second positive active material and a low elastic modulus binder, wherein the low elastic modulus binder has a lower tensile modulus than the high elastic modulus binder. A winding element includes the positive electrode. A rechargeable lithium battery includes the winding element. |
| US10026955B2 |
Method for producing positive electrode active material layer for lithium ion battery, and positive electrode active material layer for lithium ion battery
To provide a method for producing a positive electrode active material layer for lithium ion battery that can improve durability and internal resistance of lithium ion battery, and particularly lithium ion battery that operates at high voltage. The method for producing positive electrode active material layer for a lithium ion battery includes coating a substrate with positive electrode mixture slurry containing positive electrode active material, first lithium salt, second lithium salt and solvent, and drying off the solvent. First lithium salt is lithium phosphate, the second lithium salt is selected from the group including of lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, lithium nitrate, lithium acetate, lithium sulfate and combinations thereof, and the proportion of the second lithium salt with respect to the first lithium salt is 1 to 50 mol % based on the number of lithium atoms. |
| US10026954B2 |
Electrode materials for lithium ion batteries
Electrode materials comprising (a) at least one component of general formula (I) Li(1+x)[NiaCObMncM1d](1−x)O2 (I) the integers being defined as follows: x is in the range of from 0.01 to 0.05, a is in the range of from 0.3 to 0.6, b is in the range of from zero to 0.35, c is in the range of from 0.2 to 0.6, d is in the range of from zero to 0.05, a+b+c+d=1 M1 is at least one metal selected from Ca, Zn, Fe, Ti, Ba, Al, (b) at least one component of general formula (II) LiFe(1−y)M2yPO4.m lithium phosphate (II) y is in the range of from zero to 0.8 M2 is at least one element selected from Co, Mn, Ni, V, Mg, Nd, Zn, and Y, m is selected from 0.01 to 0.15 (c) carbon in electrically conductive modification. |
| US10026951B2 |
Control system and control method
The surface profile of a coating material in a substrate width direction is optimized in coating a substrate with the coating material such as an electrode active material. A gap adjuster configured to adjust a gap between a nozzle for ejecting a coating material and a substrate to be coated with the coating material, a rotation speed adjuster configured to adjust a rotation speed of a pump for pressure-feeding the coating material to the nozzle, a model calculator configured to calculate a surface profile of the coating material based on an end region model and a central region model wherein the end region model models profiles of rising regions in the surface profile of the coating material in a width direction of the substrate and the central region model models a profile of a central region between the rising regions in the surface profile, a comparator configured to compare a predetermined set profile with the surface profile of the coating material calculated by the model calculator, and a control calculator configured to calculate a control amount of at least one of the gap adjuster and the rotation speed adjuster based on a comparison result of the comparator are included. |
| US10026950B2 |
Prismatic secondary battery having spark prevention mechanism and battery pack using the same
A prismatic secondary battery of one configuration has a current disconnection mechanism, and a distance from a first conductive member to a second conductive member along a surface of a first insulation member and passing an outer periphery of the first insulation member is greater than or equal to 2.4 mm. At least one of the first insulation member and a second insulation member is formed from a material having a weight reduction percentage of 100% in thermo gravimetric measurement under conditions of a measurement temperature of 25° C.-600° C., a temperature increase rate of 5° C.±0.5° C./min, a measurement atmosphere of inert gas flow, and an amount of measurement sample of 10 mg±5 mg. |
| US10026949B2 |
Secondary battery and electrode lead assembly applied thereto
A secondary battery according to the present disclosure includes an electrode assembly, a first lead plate connected to the electrode assembly, a second lead plate disposed facing the first lead plate with a gap therebetween such that at least a portion of the second lead plate overlaps with at least a portion of the first lead plate, a metal bridge disposed within the gap to connect the first lead plate and the second lead plate, a first sealant disposed within the gap further outside than the metal bridge, a pouch case to receive the electrode assembly such that the second lead plate is drawn outside, and a second sealant interposed respectively between an inner surface of the pouch case and the first lead plate and between the inner surface of the pouch case and the second lead plate. |
| US10026948B2 |
Safety element for battery cell
A galvanic element includes a housing, a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and a collector associated with each terminal. The collectors are configured to make contact with an electrode assembly in the interior of the housing. The housing is a stainless steel housing which has a negative potential or a neutral potential. |
| US10026944B2 |
Electrode assembly having tab-lead joint portion of minimized resistance difference between electrodes and electrochemical cell containing the same
Disclosed herein is a stacking or stacking/folding type electrode assembly of a cathode/separator/anode structure, wherein the electrode assembly is constructed in a structure in which tabs (electrode tabs), having no active material applied thereto, protrude from electrode plates constituting the electrode assembly, the electrode tabs are electrically connected to an electrode lead, and the pluralities of electrode tabs are joined to the top and the bottom of the electrode lead at an electrode lead-electrode tabs joint portion such that the resistance difference between electrodes at the electrode lead-electrode tabs joint portion is minimized. Also disclosed is an electrochemical cell including the electrode assembly. |
| US10026942B2 |
Bus bar assembly including integrated bus bar support
A battery module is provided. The battery module includes a set of stacked battery cells, each stacked battery cell including at least one cell tab and a bus bar assembly including a bus bar, a bus bar support overmolded around a sense line electrically coupled to the battery cells, the bus bar support including cell tab openings having the plurality of cell tabs extending therethrough. |
| US10026941B2 |
Separator for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, and battery including same
A separator 1 for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, includes a resin-made substrate (2) and a porous heat resistance layer (4) disposed on the substrate. The porous heat resistance layer includes an inorganic filler (6) and hollow bodies (7). The hollow body includes a shell portion and a hollow portion. The shell portion is formed of an acryl resin. The hollow portion is formed inside the shell portion. An opening portion extending through the shell portion to spatially interconnect the hollow portion and the outside of the shell portion is formed in the shell portion. |
| US10026938B2 |
Cylindrical lithium-ion cell
A cylindrical lithium ion battery in which an electrode group formed by winding a positive electrode and a negative electrode is housed in a battery case is disclosed. A sealing plate seals an opening of the battery case. An insulating plate having a plurality of openings is provided on a side of the electrode group closer to the sealing plate. The plurality of openings include a first hole with a largest opening area, and a plurality of second holes with opening areas smaller than the opening area of the first hole. An opening ratio of the first hole is 12% or more and 40% or less; a sum of opening ratios of the second holes is 0.3% or more and 10% or less; and a total opening ratio of all the openings is 20% or more and 50% or less. |
| US10026935B2 |
Battery exterior body, method of manufacturing battery exterior body, and lithium secondary battery
A battery exterior body which can be easily manufactured without additional process by heat-sealing internal layers of battery exterior materials, and has a high degree of safety with respect to gas generated in the inside of the exterior body, a method of manufacturing the battery exterior body, and a lithium secondary battery are provided. The battery exterior body is a battery exterior body 2 which is formed by heat-sealing internal layers 8 of battery exterior materials 4 formed by laminating an external layer 11 including a heat-resistant resin film, a metal foil layer 10, and the internal layer 8 in this order, and has a sealing strength between the heat-sealed internal layers 8 of 20 N/15 mm of width to 50 N/15 mm of width. |
| US10026933B2 |
Nonaqueous electrolyte battery and manufacturing method thereof
A nonaqueous electrolyte battery provided by the present invention includes: an electrode body (80) having a flat shape and including a positive electrode and a negative electrode (60); a square-shaped battery case (30) configured to accommodate therein the electrode body (80) and a nonaqueous electrolyte; and a negative electrode collector terminal (94) placed in the battery case (30) and connected to the negative electrode (60) of the electrode body (80). The negative electrode collector terminal (94) is mainly made of copper or copper alloy. An insulator film (10) configured to insulate the battery case (30) from the electrode body (80) is placed between an inner wall (30a) of the battery case (30) and the electrode body (80). The insulator film (10) is joined to the inner wall (30a) of the battery case (30), and the insulator film (10) is placed so as not to make contact with the negative electrode collector terminal (94). |
| US10026931B2 |
Method of fabricating white organic light-emitting device by using electrospraying
A method of manufacturing a white organic light-emitting device (white OLED) including a first electrode, a hole transport layer, a white light-emitting layer, an electron transport layer, and a second electrode which are sequentially formed on a substrate, the method including manufacturing a red ink by mixing a red light-emitting host and a red light-emitting dopant, manufacturing a green ink by mixing a green light-emitting host and a green light-emitting dopant, manufacturing a blue ink by mixing a blue light-emitting host and a blue light-emitting dopant, and forming a white light-emitting layer as a monolayer on the hole transport layer by separately electrospraying the red ink, the green ink, and the blue ink on the hole transport layer, wherein the white light-emitting layer includes a plurality of red light-emitting domains, a plurality of green light-emitting domains, and a plurality of blue light-emitting domains on the hole transport layer. |
| US10026930B2 |
Method of manufacturing display apparatus
A method of manufacturing a display apparatus includes forming a flexible substrate on a first surface of a carrier substrate, forming a display device on the flexible substrate, and ablating the carrier substrate by radiating a plurality of laser beams on a second surface of the carrier substrate, the second surface being opposite the first surface, such that the plurality of laser beams is incident on the second surface at different angles, passes through the carrier substrate, and is overlappingly focused on a first region of a boundary surface between the carrier substrate and the flexible substrate. |
| US10026925B2 |
OLED display screen and method of manufacturing the same, and display apparatus
The present application discloses an OLED display screen and a display apparatus including the display screen and a method of manufacturing the OLED display screen. The OLED display screen includes a flexible substrate, an OLED device and a packaging layer; wherein, the packaging layer includes a reinforcement part located in a predefined bending region of the display screen. |
| US10026922B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a plurality of pixel electrodes, an insulating layer that includes a plurality of through holes each overlapping each of the pixel electrodes and covers a periphery of each of the pixel electrodes, a light-emitting layer over at least one of the pixel electrodes, a common electrode on the insulating layer and the light-emitting layer, a sealing layer that seals the light-emitting layer and located on the common electrode, a counter substrate, and an adhesive layer that adheres the counter substrate to the sealing layer. An upper surface of the insulating layer has a first area which does not overlap the light-emitting layer in a plan view, and the adhesive layer is located at least on the first area. |
| US10026913B2 |
Quantum dot electronic device and quantum dot transfer printing method
A quantum dot electronic device comprises a first encapsulation layer, a first electrode disposed on the first encapsulation layer, a quantum dot pattern disposed on the first electrode, a second electrode disposed on the quantum dot pattern and a second encapsulation layer disposed on the second electrode. The quantum dot pattern may be formed by an intaglio transfer printing method, where the method comprises forming a quantum dot layer on a donor substrate, picking up the quantum dot layer using a stamp, putting the quantum dot layer into contact with an intaglio substrate using the stamp and separating the stamp from the intaglio substrate. Using the quantum dot transfer printing method, a subminiature quantum dot pattern can be transferred at a high transfer rate. Accordingly, a highly integrated quantum dot electronic device exhibiting excellent performance and a high integrated quantum dot light emitting device with an ultrathin film can be realized. |
| US10026911B2 |
Structure for transistor switching speed improvement utilizing polar elastomers
An organic thin film transistor comprising a first gate, a second gate, a semiconducting layer located between the first gate and second gate and configured to operate as a channel and a source electrode and a drain electrode connected to opposing sides of the semiconductor layer. The organic thin film transistor also comprises a first dielectric layer located between the first gate and the semiconducting layer in a direction of current flow through the semiconductor layer, the first dielectric layer comprising a polar elastomeric dielectric material that exhibits a double layer charging effect when a set voltage is applied to the first gate and a second dielectric layer located between the second gate and the semiconducting layer. |
| US10026905B2 |
Compound, organic electric element using the same, and an electronic device thereof
A compound represented by Formula 1. An organic electric element includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an organic material layer including the compound of Formula 1. The organic material layer include a light emitting layer, a hole transport layer including a compound represented by Formula 2, and an emission-auxiliary layer including the compound represented by Formula 1. When the organic electric element includes the compound in the organic material layer, luminous efficiency, color purity, and life span can be improved. |
| US10026904B2 |
Organic light emitting devices
The present invention relates to monochromatic organic light emitting devices. The organic light emitting device includes a substrate, an anode, a cathode and an organic electroluminescent medium disposed between the anode and the cathode, wherein the organic electroluminescent medium includes compound monochromatic luminescent layer; and the compound monochromatic luminescent layer includes host A doped with monochromatic dopant and host B doped with monochromatic dopant, wherein the host A is consisted of two kinds of materials with different transporting characteristics, one is hole-transporting material, and the other is electron-transporting material. In addition, the present invention further relates to white organic light emitting devices, wherein the organic electroluminescent medium is consisted of at least one compound monochromatic luminescent layer, which includes host A doped with monochromatic dopant and host B doped with monochromatic dopant. The present invention provides a design to improve the lifetime of the organic light emitting device markedly. |
| US10026901B2 |
Organic electronic material and organic electroluminescent device
An organic light-emitting material having the structure of formula (I) or (II) as described below and an organic light-emitting device (OLED) are disclosed. The OLED adopts the compound containing fluoranthene group as the electron transport material possessing good electron transport and injection ability. The material also enhances the luminous efficiency and lifetime of the device because of its excellent thermal stability and film-forming properties. At the same time, the high triplet energy and excellent electron transport capacity of the material containing fluoranthene group make it suitable to be used as the host for phosphorescent devices, increasing the number of electrons in the light-emitting layer and the efficiency of the device. |
| US10026897B2 |
Method for manufacturing organic EL apparatus, organic EL apparatus, and electronic device
A method for manufacturing an organic EL apparatus includes forming an organic EL element and a mounting terminal on a substrate of an element substrate as a first substrate, forming sealing films so as to cover at least the organic EL element and the mounting terminal, adhering a sealing substrate as a second substrate with respect to the element substrate using a filler, and etching the sealing films so as to expose at least a part of the mounting terminal, in which, in the etching of the sealing films, the second substrate, which is formed with a composition which reacts with an etching gas and vaporizes, or a protective member, which covers at least a part of the second substrate, is used as a mask. |
| US10026895B2 |
Superlattice memory and crosspoint memory device
According to one embodiment, a memory device includes a superlattice structure portion containing first chalcogen-compound layers and second chalcogen-compound layers differing in composition from the first chalcogen-compound layers are alternately deposited, a first layer provided on one of main surfaces of the superlattice structure portion in a deposition direction thereof, which has a larger energy gap than that of the superlattice structure portion, and a second layer provided on the other main surface of the superlattice structure portion in the deposition direction, which has a larger energy gap than that of the superlattice structure portion. |
| US10026893B2 |
Method for producing a memory device having a phase change film and reset gate
A method for producing a memory device includes depositing a second interlayer insulating film on a substrate, forming contact holes, and depositing a second metal and a nitride film. The second metal and the nitride film are removed to form pillar-shaped nitride layers, and to form lower electrodes surrounding the pillar-shaped nitride layers. The second interlayer insulating film is etched back to expose upper portions of the lower electrodes. The upper portions of the lower electrodes surrounding the pillar-shaped nitride film are removed and a phase change film is deposited to surround the pillar-shaped nitride film and connect with the lower electrodes. The phase change film is etched on upper portions of the pillar-shaped nitride film, and a reset gate insulating film is formed surrounding the phase change film and forming a reset gate having a side wall shape and remaining on the upper portions of the pillar-shaped nitride film. |
| US10026892B2 |
Precessional spin current structure for MRAM
A magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM) is disclosed. MRAM device has a magnetic tunnel junction stack having a significantly improved performance of the free layer in the magnetic tunnel junction structure. The MRAM device utilizes a precessional spin current (PSC) magnetic layer in conjunction with a perpendicular MTJ where the in-plane magnetization direction of the PSC magnetic layer is free to rotate. |
| US10026891B2 |
Magnetoresistive element
A magnetoresistive element including a first magnetic layer; a first nonmagnetic layer provided on the first magnetic layer, the first nonmagnetic layer formed of SrTiO3, SrFeO3, LaAlO3, NdCoO3, or BN; and a second magnetic layer provided on the first nonmagnetic layer, wherein the first nonmagnetic layer is lattice-matched to the first magnetic layer, and the second magnetic layer is lattice-matched to the first nonmagnetic layer. |
| US10026886B2 |
System for thermoelectric energy generation
A system includes a first plate and a second plate. The first plate is arranged to be thermally coupled to a first surface and the second plate is arranged to be thermally coupled to an environment. The environment has a temperature that is different than the first surface. The system also includes a thermoelectric device that includes a plurality of thermoelectric elements. The thermoelectric device includes a third plate coupled to the plurality of thermoelectric elements and thermally coupled to the first plate. The thermoelectric device also includes a fourth plate coupled to the plurality of thermoelectric elements and thermally coupled to the second plate. The system also includes a dielectric fluid arranged between the first plate and the second plate. The thermoelectric elements are submersed in the dielectric fluid. |
| US10026884B2 |
Light emitting device cooling
A light emitting device such as luminaire includes one or more light emitting device chips mounted on a board. The light emitting device chips have electrical contacts and are flip chip mounted to board with the electrical contacts connected to contact pads. Sidewall metallizations on the sidewalls of the light emitting device chips are connected by metal heat transfer elements to heat dissipation regions of board. The metal heat transfer elements may be of solder which may be deposited using equipment conventionally used for attaching surface mount devices. |
| US10026879B2 |
Method of manufacturing light emitting element
A light emitting element includes an n-type semiconductor layer having an upper surface; a p-type semiconductor layer over a portion of the upper surface of the n-type semiconductor layer, the p-type semiconductor layer having an upper surface; a protective film continuously covering the n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type semiconductor layer, the protective film defining an n-side opening at the upper surface of the n-type semiconductor layer and a p-side opening at an upper surface of the p-type semiconductor layer; a p-side electrode on the upper surface of the p-type semiconductor layer that is exposed in the p-side opening; an n-side electrode on the upper surface of the n-type semiconductor layer that is exposed at the n-side opening, n-side electrode having an n-side light-transmissive electrode; and an n-side pad electrode on the upper surface of the n-side light-transmissive electrode. |
| US10026874B1 |
Narrow-band red phosphors for LED lamps
A light emitting device (LED-Filament) comprises: a light-transmissive substrate; at least one blue LED chip mounted on a face of the light-transmissive substrate; and a photoluminescence material at least partially covering the at least one blue LED chip. The photoluminescence material comprises phosphor particles of at least one Group IIA/IIB selenide sulfide-based phosphor material that generates red light with a peak emission wavelength in a range of 600 nm to 640 nm and a full width at half maximum emission intensity of 50 nm to 55 nm. The LED-filament can be incorporated in a lamp, with a yellow to green-emitting phosphor that generates yellow to green light with a peak emission wavelength in a range of 520 nm to 570 nm, to provide light with a color temperature in a range of 1500 K to 4000 K and a General Color Rendering Index (CRI Ra) of greater than or equal to 90 and a CRI R9 greater than or equal to 50. |
| US10026871B2 |
Method for producing an optoelectronic device with a contact area of accurately and reproducibly defined size
An optoelectronic device is disclosed. In an embodiment the device includes a semiconductor crystal with a surface having a first lateral region, a second lateral region and a third lateral region, a contact area arranged on the surface in the first lateral region, the contact area comprising a first metal and a first layer including a dielectric arranged on the surface in the third lateral region. The device further includes a second layer having an optically transparent, electrically conductive material arranged on the contact area, the first layer and the second lateral region of the surface and a third layer having a second metal arranged on the second layer. |
| US10026870B2 |
Optoelectronic device having semiconductor elements
An optoelectronic device including a substrate having a surface, openings which extend in the substrate from the surface, and semiconductor elements, each semiconductor element partially extending into one of the openings and partially outside said opening, the height of each opening being at least 25 nm and at most 5 μm and the ratio of the height to the smallest diameter of each opening being at least 0.5 and at most 15. |
| US10026869B2 |
Nitride semiconductor light-emitting device and method for producing the same
A nitride semiconductor light-emitting device includes a substrate which includes polycrystal silicon dioxide or amorphous silicon dioxide as a main component, an underlying layer that is provided on the substrate, and a multilayer structure that is provided on the underlying layer and includes at least one layer made of a nitride semiconductor single crystal. The underlying layer includes crystals oriented to a c-axis and is formed by sputtering. |
| US10026867B2 |
Nitride white-light light-emitting diode
A nitride white-light LED includes: a substrate; an epitaxial layer; an N-type electrode and a P-type electrode; channels are formed on the substrate and the epitaxial layer; temperature isolation layers are formed with low thermal conductivity material thereon to form three independent temperature zones (Zones I/II/III) on a single chip; temperature control layers are formed with high thermal conductivity material on the side wall of the epitaxial layer and the back surface of the substrate at Zones I/II/III, and control temperature of the epitaxial layer and the substrate; based on different thermal expansion coefficients, lattice constants of the nitride and the substrate at Zones I/II/III are regulated to adjust the biaxial stress to which the nitride; quantum wells change conduction band bottom and valence band top positions to change forbidden band widths and light-emitting wavelengths; the LED can emit red, green and blue lights by a single chip. |
| US10026864B2 |
Package-less LED assembly and method
This application describes an assembly suitable for emitting light, and methods of forming the same. The assembly includes a single crystal substrate with first and second surfaces, a plurality of LEDs in immediate contact with the first surface of the substrate. The LEDs are substantially crystal lattice matched with the substrate. The plurality of LEDs includes three or more LEDs that are not in electrical contact with any other LED, and there is a gap between each LED of the plurality and its nearest neighbor LED. The assembly includes phosphor-containing encapsulant layers overlying at least a portion of the LEDs. |
| US10026862B2 |
Interdigitated back contact metal-insulator-semiconductor solar cell with printed oxide tunnel junctions
Screen-printable metallization pastes for forming thin oxide tunnel junctions on the back-side surface of solar cells are disclosed. Interdigitated metal contacts can be deposited on the oxide tunnel junctions to provide all-back metal contact to a solar cell. |
| US10026861B2 |
Photovoltaic device and method of formation
An improved photovoltaic device and methods of manufacturing the same that includes an interface layer adjacent to a semiconductor absorber layer, where the interface layer includes a material in the semiconductor layer which decreases in concentration from the side of the interface layer contacting the absorber layer to an opposite side of the interface layer. |
| US10026860B2 |
Metamorphic layers in multijunction solar cells
A method of forming a multijunction solar cell comprising an upper subcell, a middle subcell, and a lower subcell comprising providing first substrate for the epitaxial growth of semiconductor material; forming a first solar subcell on said substrate having a first band gap; forming a second solar subcell over said first subcell having a second band gap smaller than said first band gap; and forming a grading interlayer over said second sub cell having a third band gap larger than said second band gap forming a third solar subcell having a fourth band gap smaller than said second band gap such that said third subcell is lattice mis-matched with respect to said second subcell. |
| US10026854B2 |
Aluminum-based compositions and solar cells including aluminum-based compositions
The present invention describes an aluminum-based paste composition including an aluminum powder, one or more glass fits, an organo-aluminate compound; and an organic vehicle. The present invention also describes a solar cell including an aluminum-based paste composition applied on a back surface of a silicon wafer. |
| US10026848B2 |
Semiconductor device
One of the objects is to improve display quality by reduction in malfunctions of a circuit. In a driver circuit formed using a plurality of pulse output circuits having first to third transistors and first to fourth signal lines, a first clock signal is supplied to the first signal line; a preceding stage signal is supplied to the second signal line; a second clock signal is supplied to the third signal line; an output signal is output from the fourth signal line. Duty ratios of the first clock signal and the second clock signal are different from each other. A period during which the second clock signal is changed from an L-level signal to an H-level signal after the first clock signal is changed from an H-level signal to an L-level signal is longer than a period during which the preceding stage signal is changed from an L-level signal to an H-level signal. |
| US10026845B2 |
Deep gate-all-around semiconductor device having germanium or group III-V active layer
Deep gate-all-around semiconductor devices having germanium or group III-V active layers are described. For example, a non-planar semiconductor device includes a hetero-structure disposed above a substrate. The hetero-structure includes a hetero-junction between an upper layer and a lower layer of differing composition. An active layer is disposed above the hetero-structure and has a composition different from the upper and lower layers of the hetero-structure. A gate electrode stack is disposed on and completely surrounds a channel region of the active layer, and is disposed in a trench in the upper layer and at least partially in the lower layer of the hetero-structure. Source and drain regions are disposed in the active layer and in the upper layer, but not in the lower layer, on either side of the gate electrode stack. |
| US10026841B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method therefor
The present disclosure relates to the technical field of semiconductors and discloses a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method therefor. Forms of the method may include: providing a substrate structure, where the substrate structure includes: a semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor fin on the semiconductor substrate, isolation regions at two sides of the semiconductor fin, a gate dielectric layer on a surface of the semiconductor fin above the isolation regions, and a gate on a part of the gate dielectric layer; and performing threshold voltage adjustment ion implantation on a part of the semiconductor fin that is not covered by the gate, so as to enable implanted impurities to diffuse into a part of the semiconductor fin that is covered by the gate. Forms of the present disclosure can reduce loss of impurities implanted by the threshold voltage adjustment ion implantation. |
| US10026839B2 |
Epitaxial source/drain differential spacers
A process of forming an integrated circuit containing a first transistor and a second transistor of the same polarity, by forming an epitaxial spacer layer over gates of both transistors, performing an epitaxial spacer anisotropic etch process to form epitaxial spacers on vertical surfaces adjacent to the first transistor gate and removing the epitaxial spacer layer from the second transistor gate, subsequently performing a source/drain etch process and a source/drain epitaxial process to form source/drain epitaxial regions in the substrate adjacent to the first and second gates, such that the first source/drain epitaxial regions are separated from the first gate by a lateral space which is at least 2 nanometers larger than a second lateral space separating the second source/drain epitaxial regions from the second gate. An integrated circuit formed by the recited process. |
| US10026835B2 |
Field boosted metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor
A trench metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (TMOSFET) includes a plurality of mesas disposed between a plurality of gate regions. Each mesa includes a drift region and a body region. The width of the mesa is in the order of quantum well dimension at the interface between the gate insulator regions and the body regions The TMOSFET also includes a plurality of gate insulator regions disposed between the gate regions and the body regions, drift regions, and drain region. The thickness of the gate insulator regions between the gate regions and the drain region results in a gate-to-drain electric field in an OFF-state that is substantially lateral aiding to deplete the charge in the drift regions. |
| US10026834B2 |
Method of manufacturing enhanced device and enhanced device
A method of manufacturing an enhanced device and an enhance device are provided. The method comprises: preparing a substrate, and forming a non-planar structure in the substrate; depositing a nitride channel layer on the substrate, a gate region, a source region and a drain region being defined on the nitride channel layer, the gate region of the nitride channel layer having a non-planar structure transferred from the non-planar structure of the substrate; depositing a nitride barrier layer on the nitride channel layer, the nitride barrier layer having a non-planar structure located above and corresponding to the non-planar structure of the nitride channel layer, the nitride barrier layer and the nitride channel layer forming a nitride channel layer/nitride barrier layer heterojunction. |
| US10026825B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor may include a semiconductor substrate including a first region and a second region disposed at opposite sides of the first region, a first trench formed in the first region, a buffer layer filling a portion of the first trench, a first semiconductor layer formed on the buffer layer, a second semiconductor layer forming a hetero-junction with the first semiconductor layer on the first semiconductor layer of the first region and a gate electrode formed on the second semiconductor layer of the first region. |
| US10026824B1 |
Air-gap gate sidewall spacer and method
Disclosed are integrated circuit (IC) structures and formation methods. In the methods, a gate with a sacrificial gate cap and a sacrificial gate sidewall spacer is formed on a channel region. The cap and sidewall spacer are removed, creating a cavity with a lower portion between the sidewalls of the gate and adjacent metal plugs and with an upper portion above the lower portion and the gate. A first dielectric layer is deposited, forming an air-gap in the lower portion and lining the upper portion. A second dielectric layer is deposited, filling the upper portion. During formation of a gate contact opening (optionally over an active region), the second dielectric layer is removed and the first dielectric layer is anisotropically etched, thereby exposing the gate and creating a dielectric spacer with a lower air-gap segment and an upper solid segment. Metal deposited into the opening forms the gate contact. |
| US10026823B1 |
Schottky contact structure for semiconductor devices and method for forming such schottky contact structure
A Schottky contact structure for a semiconductor device having a Schottky contact and an electrode for the contact structure disposed on the contact. The Schottky contact comprises: a first layer of a first metal in Schottky contact with a semiconductor; a second layer of a second metal on the first layer; a third layer of the first metal on the second layer; and a fourth layer of the second metal on the third layer. The electrode for the Schottky contact structure disposed on the Schottky contact comprises a third metal, the second metal providing a barrier against migration between the third metal and the first metal. |
| US10026818B1 |
Field effect transistor structure with recessed interlayer dielectric and method
Disclosed are a field effect transistor (FET) and a FET formation method. In the FET, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer is positioned laterally adjacent to a sidewall spacer of a replacement metal gate and a cap layer covers the ILD layer, the sidewall spacer and the gate. However, during processing after the gate is formed but before the cap layer is formed, the ILD layer is polished and then recessed such that the top surface of the ILD layer is lower than the top surfaces of the sidewall spacer and the gate. The cap layer is then deposited such that the cap layer is, not only above the top surfaces of the ILD layer, sidewall spacer and gate, but also positioned laterally adjacent to a vertical surface of the sidewall spacer. Recessing the ILD layer prevents shorts between the gate and subsequently formed contacts to the FET source/drain regions. |
| US10026817B2 |
Low-stress low-hydrogen LPCVD silicon nitride
A microelectronic device contains a high performance silicon nitride layer which is stoichiometric within 2 atomic percent, has a low stress of 600 MPa to 1000 MPa, and has a low hydrogen content, less than 5 atomic percent, formed by an LPCVD process. The LPCVD process uses ammonia and dichlorosilane gases in a ratio of 4 to 6, at a pressure of 150 millitorr to 250 millitorr, and at a temperature of 800° C. to 820° C. |
| US10026811B2 |
Integrated circuit structure and method with solid phase diffusion
A method includes forming fin semiconductor features on a substrate. A dopant-containing dielectric material layer is formed on sidewalls of the fin semiconductor features and the substrate. A precise material modification (PMM) process is performed to the dopant-containing dielectric material layer. The PMM process includes forming a first dielectric material layer over the dopant-containing dielectric material layer; performing a tilted ion implantation to the first dielectric material layer so that a top portion of the first dielectric material layer is doped to have a modified etch characteristic different from an etch characteristic of a bottom portion of the first dielectric material layer; and performing an etch process to selectively remove the top portion of the first dielectric material layer and the top portion of the dopant-containing dielectric material layer. |
| US10026810B2 |
Co-integration of silicon and silicon-germanium channels for nanosheet devices
Nanosheet semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same include forming a first nanosheet stack in a first device region with layers of a first channel material and layers of a sacrificial material. A second nanosheet stack is formed in a second device region with layers of a second channel material, layers of the sacrificial material, and a liner formed around the layers of the second channel material. The sacrificial material is etched away, but the liner protects the second channel material from the etch. Gate stacks are formed over and around the layers of first and second channel material to form respective first and second semiconductor devices in the first and second device regions. |
| US10026807B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
To provide a semiconductor device having a structure capable of forming a superjunction with less thermal history, a semiconductor device is provided, the semiconductor device including a contact trench formed between two gate trenches, penetrating through a source region, and including its lower end arranged in a base region, and a second conductivity-type protruding portion formed protruding toward a lower side from the lower end of the base region in a region opposite to the lower end of the contact trench, wherein the depth from the upper end of the source region to a lower end of the protruding portion is 3 μm or more, and a carrier concentration Nd in a first conductivity-type region adjacent to the protruding portion in a lateral direction perpendicular to a depth direction and a carrier concentration Na of the protruding portion satisfy a predetermined equation. |
| US10026804B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes: a first GaN based semiconductor layer; a second GaN based semiconductor layer disposed on the first GaN based semiconductor layer and having a bandgap larger than that of the first GaN based semiconductor layer; a source electrode disposed on the second GaN based semiconductor layer; a drain electrode disposed on the second GaN based semiconductor layer; a p-type third GaN based semiconductor layer disposed between the source electrode and the drain electrode on the second GaN based semiconductor layer; a gate electrode disposed on the third GaN based semiconductor layer; and a p-type fourth GaN based semiconductor layer disposed between the gate electrode and the drain electrode on the second GaN based semiconductor layer and disposed separated from the third GaN based semiconductor layer. |
| US10026802B1 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the semiconductor device
Provided is a semiconductor device having a resistor including silicide layers and a polysilicon layer with impurities, and the resistor includes a plurality of boundary surfaces between the silicide layers and the polysilicon layer in a longitudinal direction of the resistor, permitting correction with one photomask when a resistance value of a resistor is deviated from a design value while suppressing upsizing of a semiconductor device. Further, provided is a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device, in which the resistance value is adjusted by changing one mask for forming the silicide layers to change the number of boundary surfaces between the silicide layers and the polysilicon layer, and change a length of the polysilicon layer. |
| US10026800B2 |
Light emitting device and electronic apparatus
There is provided a light emitting device including: a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of pixel circuits that is disposed in a display region of the semiconductor substrate; a first wiring that is formed of a conductive material so as to be supplied with a predetermined electric potential; and a plurality of first contact portions that is formed of a conductive material so as to connect the semiconductor substrate and the first wiring. The plurality of first contact portions and the first wiring are provided in the display region. |
| US10026797B2 |
Organic light-emitting diode display having multi-mode cavity structure
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display can include a substrate configured to have an emission area and a non-emission area defined in the substrate; a thin film transistor disposed in the non-emission area; a first storage capacitor electrode and a second storage capacitor electrode configured to be overlapped in the emission area with a passivation layer interposed between the first and the second storage capacitor electrodes; an overcoat layer configured to cover the thin film transistor and the second storage capacitor electrode; and a first pixel area configured to comprise a first anode electrode and an insulating layer sequentially stacked on the overcoat layer in such a way as to overlap the second storage capacitor electrode and a second anode electrode disposed on the insulating layer and configured to come in contact with the thin film transistor and the first anode electrode. |
| US10026795B2 |
Organic EL element and method for manufacturing organic EL element
An organic EL element including: a TFT substrate having a TAOS-TFT; and an organic EL unit having a lower electrode. The lower electrode includes an aluminum containing metal layer, a transition metal containing oxide layer disposed between the aluminum containing metal layer and the TFT substrate, and an aluminum containing oxide layer disposed between the aluminum containing metal layer and the transition metal containing oxide layer and in contact with both the aluminum containing metal layer and the transition metal containing oxide layer. The aluminum containing oxide layer contains aluminum oxide. The transition metal containing oxide layer contains tungsten oxide and has a density of 6.5 g/cm3 or more. |
| US10026792B2 |
Pixel definition layer and OLED device including the same
A pixel definition layer and an OLED device are provided. The pixel definition layer includes a plurality of openings, the openings each being provided with bottom surface opening, a top surface opening and a side wall. The openings at least include a first opening defining a first pixel unit and a second opening defining a second pixel unit. The first opening is filled with a first pixel luminescent material, and the second opening is filled with a second pixel luminescent material. A decay rate of the first pixel luminescent material is lower than that of the second pixel luminescent material. The area of the bottom surface opening of the first opening is smaller than that of the bottom surface opening of the second opening. The side wall of the opening is provided with a pre-set reference surface. The pixel definition layer can be used for preparing an OLED device. |
| US10026780B2 |
Superlattice memory and crosspoint memory device
According to one embodiment, a memory includes a resistance change layer includes a first chalcogenide layer, and a second chalcogenide layer having a composition different from that of the first chalcogenide layer which are stacked alternately, and the resistance change layer having a superlattice structure, and a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type provided on a one of main surfaces of the resistance change layer. |
| US10026779B2 |
Magnetoresistive memory device and manufacturing method of the same
According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive memory device, includes first wirings arranged parallel to each other in or on a substrate, second wirings arranged parallel to each other above the substrate to cross the first wirings when viewed in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the substrate, and magnetoresistive elements provided corresponding to intersections of the first and second wirings, respectively, and divided into layers. |
| US10026777B2 |
Light emitting device and manufacturing method of the light emitting device
A light-emitting device includes: a substrate; a unit light-emitting area disposed on the substrate; first and second electrodes disposed in the unit light-emitting area to be separated from each other; a plurality of rod-shaped LEDs disposed between the first and second electrodes; a reflective contact electrode disposed on opposite ends of the rod-shaped LEDs to electrically connect the rod-shaped LEDs to the first and second electrodes; and a light-transmitting structure disposed between the first and second electrodes and extending to cross the rod-shaped LEDs. |
| US10026774B2 |
Method of manufacturing solid-state image sensor and solid-state image sensor
A method of manufacturing a solid-state image sensor including preparing a wafer including a pixel region where a photoelectric conversion element is provided, a peripheral circuit region where a gate electrode of a peripheral MOS transistor for constituting a peripheral circuit is provided, and a scribe region. The method includes forming an insulating film covering the pixel region, the peripheral circuit region, and the scribe region, and forming a sidewall spacer on a side surface of the gate electrode by etching the insulating film so that portions of the insulating film remains to cover the pixel region and the scribe region, and forming a metal silicide layer in the peripheral circuit region by using, as a mask for protection from silicidation, the insulating film covering the pixel region and the scribe region. |
| US10026773B2 |
Image pickup device and image pickup apparatus
An image pickup device according to the present disclosure includes a first pixel and a second pixel each including a photodetection section and a light condensing section, the photodetection section including a photoelectric conversion element, the light condensing section condensing incident light toward the photodetection section, the first pixel and the second pixel being adjacent to each other and each having a step part on a photodetection surface of the photodetection section, in which at least a part of a wall surface of the step part is covered with a first light shielding section. |
| US10026772B2 |
Solid-state imaging device with suppression of color mixture, manufacturing method thereof, and electronic apparatus
A solid-state imaging device having a backside illuminated structure, includes: a pixel region in which pixels each having a photoelectric conversion portion and a plurality of pixel transistors are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix; an element isolation region isolating the pixels which is provided in the pixel region and which includes a semiconductor layer provided in a trench by an epitaxial growth; and a light receiving surface at a rear surface side of a semiconductor substrate which is opposite to a multilayer wiring layer. |
| US10026771B1 |
Image sensor with a cross-wafer capacitor
One or more cross-wafer capacitors are formed in an electronic component, circuit, or device that includes stacked wafers. One example of such a device is a stacked image sensor. The image sensor can include two or more wafers, with two wafers that are bonded to each other each including a conductive segment adjacent to, proximate, or abutting a bonding surface of the respective wafer. The conductive segments are positioned relative to each other such that each conductive element forms a plate of a capacitor. A cross-wafer capacitor is formed when the two wafers are attached to each other. |
| US10026769B2 |
Semiconductor device and solid-state imaging device
The present technology relates to a semiconductor device and a solid-state imaging device of which crack resistance can be improved in a simpler way. The semiconductor device has an upper substrate that is constituted by a Si substrate and wiring layers laminated on the Si substrate and a second substrate that is constituted by a Si substrate and wiring layers laminated on the Si substrate and is joined to the upper substrate. In addition, a pad for wire bonding or probing is formed in the upper substrate, and pads for protecting corner or side parts of the pad for wire bonding or probing are radially laminated and provided in each of the wiring layers between the pad and the Si substrate of the lower substrate. The present technology can be applied to a solid-state imaging device. |
| US10026768B2 |
Detector, detector with lock-in amplifier, substrate, and method for manufacturing a detector
A detector comprises a plurality of photoelectric converters to output an electrical signal corresponding to an incident light, and a plurality of filter circuits provided corresponding to each of the plurality of photoelectric converters or to each of a plurality of element groups respectively including a predetermined number of the photoelectric converters of the plurality of photoelectric converters, the plurality of filter circuits attenuating a signal having a predetermined frequency from the electrical signal output from the plurality of photoelectric converters,In the above-described detector, the plurality of photoelectric converters may be provided in a first substrate, and the plurality of filter circuits may be provided in a second substrate laminated on the first substrate. |
| US10026767B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a photoelectric conversion element, a first isolation insulating film, and a current blocking region. The first isolation insulating film is formed around the photoelectric conversion element. The current blocking region is formed in a region between the photoelectric conversion element and the first isolation insulating film. The current blocking region includes an impurity diffusion layer, and a defect extension preventing layer disposed in contact with the impurity diffusion layer to form a twin with the impurity diffusion layer. The defect extension preventing layer has a different crystal structure from that of the impurity diffusion layer. At least a part of the current blocking region is disposed in contact with the first isolation insulating film. |
| US10026766B2 |
Display device with separation member including steps
A display device includes: a substrate; a plurality of light-emission elements arranged, on the substrate, in a first direction and a second direction intersecting each other, each of the light-emission elements having a first electrode layer, an organic layer including a luminous layer, and a second electrode layer which are laminated in that order; and a separation section disposed, on the substrate, between the light-emission elements adjacent to each other in the first direction, the separation section having two or more pairs of steps. The first electrode layers in the light-emission elements are separated from each other, and the organic layers as well as the second electrode layers in the light-emission elements adjacent to each other in the first direction are separated from each other by the steps included in the separation section. |
| US10026765B2 |
Apparatus and sensor chip component attaching method
An apparatus includes a lens component and an integrated circuit package. The lens component has a lens and a through hole from a specific surface to a bottom surface of the lens component. The integrated circuit package has a sensor and a second portion on a top surface of the integrated circuit package. The first portion on the bottom surface of the lens component is adjacent and attached to the second portion on the top surface of the integrated circuit package by an adhesive material that is injected via the through hole to the first portion and the second portion, for fixing the lens component to the integrated circuit package. |
| US10026761B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same, semiconductor module, and electronic device
The present technology relates to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same, a semiconductor module, and an electronic device capable of more certainly improving an optical characteristic and chromatic aberration. A semiconductor package provided with a pedestal having a cylindrical shape including a curved surface curved so as to be concave to a light incident side, and a linear image sensor on which a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element is arranged in a one-dimensional direction, the linear image sensor fixed on the curved surface on which a light-receiving area formed of a plurality of pixels is curved so as to be concave to the light incident side is provided. The present technology may be applied to the semiconductor package used in an image reading device, for example. |
| US10026754B2 |
Display device
The object of the present invention is to make it possible to form an LIPS TFT and an oxide semiconductor TFT on the same substrate. A display device includes a substrate having a display region in which pixels are formed. The pixel includes a first TFT using an oxide semiconductor 109. An oxide film 110 as an insulating material is formed on the oxide semiconductor 109. A gate electrode 111 is formed on the oxide film 110. A first electrode 115 is connected to a drain of the first TFT via a first through hole formed in the oxide film 110. A second electrode 116 is connected to a source of the first TFT via a second through hole formed in the oxide film 110. |
| US10026753B2 |
Method for compensating for temperature effects in semiconductor device structures using a diode structure and a tunable resistor
A method includes providing a semiconductor device structure including a substrate having a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) region and a hybrid region. A semiconductor device is provided in the SOI region. The semiconductor device includes a gate structure, a diode structure provided in the hybrid region and coupled to a substrate material of the SOI region, a supply circuit arrangement including first and second supply lines, a first resistor coupled between the first supply line and a first terminal of the diode structure, and a second resistor coupled between the second supply line and the substrate material positioned beneath the gate structure. At least one of the first and second resistors comprises a tunable resistor. A resistance of the tunable resistor is adjusted so as to adjust a threshold voltage (Vt) of the semiconductor device in dependence on an operating temperature of the SOI region. |
| US10026751B2 |
Semiconductor device including a repeater/buffer at higher metal routing layers and methods of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a series of metal routing layers and a complementary pair of planar field-effect transistors (FETs) on an upper metal routing layer of the metal routing layers. The upper metal routing layer is M3 or higher. Each of the FETs includes a channel region of a crystalline material. The crystalline material may include one or more transition metal dichalcogenide materials such as MoS2, WS2, WSe2, and/or combinations thereof. |
| US10026748B2 |
Stacked type semiconductor memory device and method for manufacturing same
According to the embodiment, the semiconductor device includes: a stacked body; first interconnect and a second interconnect; a first columnar portion, a second columnar portion, a third columnar portion, and a fourth columnar portion; a first intermediate interconnect; a first connection portion; a second connection portion; and a second intermediate interconnect. The stacked body includes a plurality of electrode layers. The first interconnect and the second interconnect are provided on the stacked body, and extend in a first direction crossing a stacking direction of the stacked body. The first intermediate interconnect is electrically connected to the first interconnect, the first columnar portion, and the second columnar portion. The second intermediate interconnect is provided at a height different from a height of the first intermediate interconnect, and is electrically connected to the second interconnect, the third columnar portion, and the fourth columnar portion. |
| US10026747B2 |
Non-volatile memory device with first gate structure in memory cell region and second gate structure in peripheral circuit region and non-volatile memory system including the same
A non-volatile memory device is provided as follows. A substrate has a peripheral circuit. A first semiconductor layer is disposed on the substrate. The first semiconductor layer includes a memory cell region. A first gate structure is disposed on the first semiconductor layer. The first gate structure includes a plurality of first gate electrodes stacked in a perpendicular direction to the first semiconductor layer and a plurality of vertical channel structures penetrating the plurality of first gate electrodes. The first gate structure is arranged in the memory cell region. A second gate structure is disposed on the substrate. The second gate structure includes a plurality of second gate electrodes stacked in the perpendicular direction to the first semiconductor layer. The second gate structure is arranged outside the memory cell region. |
| US10026745B1 |
Semiconductor memory cell structure
A semiconductor memory cell structure includes a substrate, a tunnel dielectric layer formed on the substrate, a blocking dielectric layer formed on the substrate, a control gate formed on the blocking dielectric layer, and a tri-layered charge-trapping layer sandwiched between the tunnel dielectric layer and the blocking dielectric layer. Furthermore, the tri-layered charge-trapping layer includes a bottom nitride layer formed on the substrate, a top nitride layer formed on the bottom nitride layer, and a middle nitride layer sandwiched between the bottom nitride layer and the top nitride layer. The bottom nitride layer includes a first nitride concentration, the top nitride layer includes a second nitride concentration, and the middle nitride layer includes a third nitride concentration. And the third nitride concentration is larger than the first nitride concentration and the second nitride concentration. |
| US10026744B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
An improvement is achieved in the reliability of a semiconductor device. A structure is obtained in which a first insulating film for a gate insulating film of a memory element is formed over a semiconductor substrate located in a memory region, a second insulating film for a gate insulating film of a lower-breakdown-voltage MISFET is formed over the semiconductor substrate located in a lower-breakdown-voltage MISFET formation region, and a third insulating film for a gate insulating film of a higher-breakdown-voltage MISFET is formed over the semiconductor substrate located in a higher-breakdown-voltage MISFET formation region. Subsequently, a film for gate electrodes is formed and then patterned to form the respective gate electrodes of the memory element, the lower-breakdown-voltage MISFET, and the higher-breakdown-voltage MISFET. The step of forming the second insulating film is performed after the step of forming the first insulating film. The step of forming the third insulating film is performed before the step of forming the first insulating film. |
| US10026742B2 |
Nonvolatile memory devices having single-layered gates
A nonvolatile memory device includes an active region extending in a first direction, a first single-layered gate intersecting the active region and extending in a second direction, a second single-layered gate intersecting the active region and extending in the second direction, and a selection gate intersecting the active region. The selection gate includes a first selection gate main line and a second selection gate main line that intersect the active region to be parallel with the first and second single-layered gates, a selection gate interconnection line that connects a first end of the first selection gate main line to a first end of the second selection gate main line, and a selection gate extension that extends from a portion of the selection gate interconnection line to be disposed between first ends of the first and second single-layered gates. |
| US10026737B1 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a separation wall made of a dielectric material is formed between two fin structures. A dummy gate structure is formed over the separation wall and the two fin structures. An interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer is formed over the dummy gate structure. An upper portion of the ILD layer is removed, thereby exposing the dummy gate structure. The dummy gate structure is replaced with a metal gate structure. A planarization operation is performed to expose the separation wall, thereby dividing the metal gate structure into a first gate structure and a second gate structure. The first gate structure and the second gate structure are separated by the separation wall. |
| US10026735B2 |
Decoupling capacitor with metal programmable knee frequency
A MOS IC includes pMOS transistors, each having a pMOS transistor drain, source, and gate. Each pMOS transistor gate extends in a first direction and is coupled to other pMOS transistor gates. Each pMOS transistor source/drain are coupled to a first voltage source. The MOS IC further includes a first metal interconnect extending over the pMOS transistors. The first metal interconnect has first and second ends. The first metal interconnect is coupled to each pMOS transistor gate and is coupled to a second voltage source less than the first voltage source. One of each pMOS transistor gate or the second voltage source is coupled to the first metal interconnect through at least one tap point located between the first and second ends. The pMOS transistors and the first metal interconnect function as a decoupling capacitor. |
| US10026733B2 |
Complementary SOI lateral bipolar transistors with backplate bias
A method for fabricating a complementary bipolar junction transistor (BJT) integrated structure. The method includes forming a first backplate in a monolithic substrate below a first buried oxide (BOX) layer. Another forming step forms a second backplate in the monolithic substrate below the first BOX layer. The second backplate is electrically isolated from the first backplate. Another forming step forms an NPN lateral BJT above the first BOX layer and superposing the first backplate. The NPN lateral BJT is configured to conduct electricity horizontally between an NPN emitter and an NPN collector when the NPN lateral BJT is active. Another forming step forms a PNP lateral BJT superposing the second backplate. The PNP lateral BJT is configured to conduct electricity horizontally between a PNP emitter and a PNP collector when the PNP lateral BJT is active. |
| US10026725B2 |
System for designing a semiconductor device, device made, and method of using the system
A semiconductor device includes an edge active cell, an inner active cell and a middle active cell. The edge active cell is located near an edge of the semiconductor device. The edge active cell includes a plurality of fingers. The inner active cell is adjacent to the edge active cell toward a central portion of the semiconductor device. The inner active cell includes a plurality of fingers and at least one of the plurality of fingers of the edge active cell is electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of fingers of the inner active cell. The middle active cell is located near the central portion of the semiconductor device. The middle active cell includes a plurality of fingers and each of the fingers of the middle active cell is electrically connected to each other. |
| US10026724B2 |
Semiconductor package and method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor package includes forming at least two partial package chip stacks, each partial package chip stack including at least two semiconductor chips each including a plurality of through substrate vias (TSVs), and including a first mold layer surrounding side surfaces of the at least two semiconductor chips, and sequentially mounting the at least two partial package chip stacks on a package substrate in a direction vertical to a top surface of the package substrate, such that the at least two partial package chip stacks include a first partial package chip stack and a second partial package chip stack directly connected to the first partial package chip stack. |
| US10026722B1 |
Light emitting component and display device
A light emitting component includes an epitaxial structure, a first electrode and a second electrode. The epitaxial structure includes a first type semiconductor layer, a second type semiconductor layer and a light emitting layer. The light emitting layer is located between the first type semiconductor layer and the second type semiconductor layer. The first electrode is connected to the first type semiconductor layer and at least part of the first electrode is located at a first side of the epitaxial structure. The second electrode is connected to the second type semiconductor layer and located at the first side of the epitaxial structure. A part of the second electrode is located between the second type semiconductor layer and a part of the first electrode. |
| US10026720B2 |
Semiconductor structure and a method of making thereof
An integrated circuit package including a substrate having a cavity and one or more semiconductor devices assembled within the cavity of the substrate. The one or more semiconductor devices electrically coupled using redistribution layers, wherein the cavity is a first cavity, the substrate includes the first cavity and a second cavity, the one or more semiconductor devices are fully embedded within the first cavity of the substrate, the one or more semiconductor devices are fully embedded between the substrate and a first redistribution layer of said redistribution layers, bumps are fully embedded within the second cavity of the substrate, the bumps are fully embedded between the substrate and the first redistribution layer of said redistribution layers, and the first redistribution layer is fully embedded between the substrate and a semiconductor interposer. |
| US10026715B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device according to the present embodiment includes a semiconductor substrate, an insulating film and a conductive film. The insulating film is disposed on a first surface of the semiconductor substrate. The insulating film covers a semiconductor element. The conductive film penetrates the semiconductor substrate across from the first surface to a second surface opposite to the first surface. On the second surface, a trench continuously or intermittently exists across from a first end part side of the second surface to a second end part side thereof. |
| US10026714B2 |
Integrated circuit device
Aspects of the invention relate to an integrated circuit device and method of production thereof. The integrated circuit device comprises at least one application semiconductor die comprising at least one functional component arranged to provide application functionality, at least one functional safety semiconductor die comprising at least one component arranged to provide at least one functional safety undertaking for the at least one application semiconductor die, and at least one System in Package, SiP, connection component operably coupling the at least one functional safety semiconductor die to the at least one application semiconductor die to enable the at least one functional safety semiconductor die to provide the at least one functional safety undertaking for the at least one application semiconductor die. |
| US10026712B2 |
ESD protection circuit with stacked ESD cells having parallel active shunt
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit includes a substrate having a semiconductor surface that the ESD protection circuit formed thereon. A first ESD cell is stacked in series with at least a second ESD cell. An active shunt transistor is electrically in parallel with the first ESD cell or second ESD cell, where the active shunt includes a control node. A trigger circuit has a trigger input and a trigger output, wherein the trigger output is coupled to the control node. |
| US10026708B2 |
Strong, heat stable junction
Provided among other things is an electrical device comprising: a first component that is a semiconductor or an electrical conductor; a second component that is an electrical conductor; and a strong, heat stable junction there between including an intermetallic bond formed of: substantially (a) indium (In), tin (Sn) or a mixture thereof, and (b) substantially nickel (Ni). The junction can have an electrical contact resistance that is small compared to the resistance of the electrical device. |
| US10026703B2 |
Fan-out semiconductor package
A fan-out semiconductor package includes: a first connection member having a through-hole; a semiconductor chip disposed in the through-hole and having an active surface having connection pads disposed thereon and an inactive surface disposed to oppose the active surface; a dummy chip disposed in the through-hole and spaced apart from the semiconductor chip; a second connection member disposed on the first connection member, the dummy chip, and the active surface of the semiconductor chip; and an encapsulant encapsulating at least portions of the first connection member, the dummy chip, and the inactive surface of the semiconductor chip. The first connection member and the second connection member include, respectively, redistribution layers electrically connected to the connection pads. |
| US10026702B2 |
Fan-out semiconductor package
A fan-out semiconductor package includes: a first interconnection member having a through-hole; a semiconductor chip disposed in the through-hole and having an active surface having connection pads disposed thereon and an inactive surface opposing the active surface; an encapsulant encapsulating at least portions of the first interconnection member and the inactive surface of the semiconductor chip; a second interconnection member disposed on the first interconnection member and the active surface of the semiconductor chip; and a passivation layer disposed on the second interconnection member. The first interconnection member and the second interconnection member include, respectively, redistribution layers electrically connected to the connection pads of the semiconductor chip, the second interconnection member includes an insulating layer on which the redistribution layer of the second interconnection member is disposed, and the passivation layer has a modulus of elasticity greater than that of the insulating layer of the second interconnection member. |
| US10026701B1 |
Electromagnetic isolation structure
The various technologies presented herein relate to isolating an integrated circuit from electromagnetic radiation/interference. The integrated circuit can be encapsulated in a coating (e.g., a conformal coating). A conductive layer can be formed over the coating, where the conductive layer is deposited to connect with an electromagnetic shielding layer included in a substrate upon which the integrated circuit is located thereby forming a Faraday cage around the integrated circuit. Hollow spheres can be included in the coating to improve the dielectric constant of the coating. The conductive layer can be formed from at least one of metallic material or a polymer coating which includes conductive material. The integrated circuit can be utilized in conjunction with a heat sink and further, the integrated circuit can be of a flip chip configuration. |
| US10026698B2 |
Reducing wafer warpage during wafer processing
According to one embodiment, there is provided a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a first guard ring around a first chip region on a semiconductor wafer. The method includes forming a second guard ring around a second chip region on the semiconductor wafer. The method includes mechanically connecting the first guard ring with the second guard ring through a joist structure. |
| US10026693B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for MOL interconnects without titanium liner
Methods, apparatus, and systems for fabricating a semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor substrate; an oxide layer above the semiconductor substrate; a first metal component comprising tungsten disposed within the oxide layer; an interlayer dielectric (ILD) above the oxide layer, wherein the ILD comprises a trench and a bottom of the trench comprises at least a portion of the top of the first metal component; a barrier material disposed on sidewalls and the bottom of the trench; and a second metal component disposed in the trench. |
| US10026688B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a gate electrode on the substrate, an insulating layer on the gate electrode, first and second lower vias in the insulating layer, first and second lower metal lines provided on the insulating layer and respectively connected to the first and second lower vias, and first and second upper metal lines provided on and respectively connected to the first and second lower metal lines. When viewed in a plan view, the first lower via is overlapped with the second upper metal line, and the second lower via is overlapped with the first upper metal line. |
| US10026684B2 |
IC package
An IC package having a semiconductor body that includes a monolithically integrated circuit and at least two metallic contact surfaces. The integrated circuit being connected to the two electrical contact surfaces via printed conductors, and being disposed on a carrier substrate and connected to the carrier substrate in a force-fitting manner. The carrier substrate including at least two terminal contacts that are connected to the two contact surfaces. The semiconductor body and the carrier substrate being covered by a casting compound forming one part of the IC package. A section of each of the two terminal contacts penetrating the IC package. The two terminal contacts being disposed on the carrier substrate, and each terminal contact and the carrier substrate disposed beneath the particular terminal contacts having a hole-like formation. The particular hole-like formation being designed as a through-connection for providing an electrical connection to another electrical component. |
| US10026683B2 |
Integrated circuit package substrate
The present invention relates to an integrated circuit package substrate and, more specifically, to an integrated circuit package substrate, which exhibits excellent conductivity and reliability through the improvement of an adhesive force between a metal line for electrically connecting an upper part and a lower part of the integrated circuit package substrate and glass formed inside the integrated circuit package substrate. To this end, the present invention provides the integrated circuit package substrate comprising: a core part made of glass; a first metal thin plate formed on the upper part of the core part and made of Cu; a second metal thin plate formed at the lower part of the core part and made of Cu; a metal line formed in a shape in which the metal line penetrates through the first metal thin plate, the core part, and the second metal thin plate so as to electrically connect the first metal thin plate and the second metal thin plate, and made of Cu; and an intermediate layer formed on the outer circumferential surface of the metal line, wherein the intermediate layer includes any one of Cu2O, Cu2O doped with a transition metal, and a metal oxide including Cu and a transition metal. |
| US10026680B2 |
Semiconductor package and fabrication method thereof
A semiconductor package includes an interconnect component surrounded by a molding compound. The interconnect component comprises a first RDL structure. A second RDL structure is disposed on the interconnect component. A plurality of first connecting elements is disposed on the second RDL structure. A polish stop layer covers a surface of the interconnect component. A plurality of second connecting elements is disposed on and in the polish stop layer. At least one semiconductor die is mounted on the second connecting elements. |
| US10026676B2 |
Semiconductor lead frame package and LED package
The present invention relates to a semiconductor lead frame package and LED package. The semiconductor lead frame package includes a die pad, a lead, a die and an insulator body. The lead is electrically isolated from the die pad. The die is disposed on the die pad and electrically connected to the lead. The insulator body partially encapsulates the die pad and the lead, and has a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein a part of the lead is folded onto the top surface of the insulator body. |
| US10026675B2 |
Method of manufacture for a semiconductor device
A method of manufacture for a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes providing a semiconductor stack structure that includes a device terminal of a semiconductor device, and having a first surface and a buried oxide (BOX) layer attached to a wafer handle. Another step includes disposing a polymeric layer that includes a polymer and an admixture that increases thermal conductivity of the polymer onto the first surface of the semiconductor stack structure. Another step involves removing the wafer handle from the BOX layer to expose a second surface of the semiconductor stack structure, and yet another step involves removing a portion of the semiconductor stack structure to expose the device terminal. |
| US10026672B1 |
Recursive metal embedded chip assembly
A recursive metal-embedded chip assembly (R-MECA) process and method is described for heterogeneous integration of multiple die from diverse device technologies. The recursive aspect of this integration technology enables integration of increasingly-complex subsystems while bridging different scales for devices, interconnects and components. Additionally, the proposed concepts include high thermal management performance that is maintained through the multiple recursive levels of R-MECA, which is a key requirement for high-performance heterogeneous integration of digital, analog mixed signal and RF subsystems. At the wafer-scale, chips from diverse technologies and different thicknesses are initially embedded in a metal heat spreader surrounded by a mesh wafer host. An embodiment uses metal embedding on the backside of the chips as a key differentiator for high-density integration, and built-in thermal management. After die embedding, wafer-level front side interconnects are fabricated to interconnect the various chips and with each other. The wafer is then diced into individual metal-embedded chip assembly (MECA) modules, and forms the level one for multi-scale R-MECA integration. These modules are subsequently integrated into another wafer or board using the same integration approach recursively. Additional components such as discrete passive resistors, capacitors and inductors can be integrated at the second level, once the high-resolution, high-density integration has been performed at level zero. This recursive integration offers a practical solution to build very large scale integrated systems and subsystems. |
| US10026671B2 |
Substrate design for semiconductor packages and method of forming same
An embodiment device package includes first die and one or more redistribution layers (RDLs) electrically connected to the first die. The one or more RDLs extend laterally past edges of the first die. The device package further includes one or more second dies bonded to a first surface of the one or more RDLs and a connector element on the first surface of the one or more RDLs. The connector element has a vertical dimension greater than the one or more second dies. A package substrate is bonded to the one or more RDLs using the connector element, wherein the one or more second dies is disposed between the first die and the package substrate. |
| US10026666B2 |
Stacked die package with aligned active and passive through-silicon vias
Disclosed is a package-on-package (PoP) assembly comprises a two-tiered windowed ball grid array (BGA) and a system on a chip (SoC) package. Window openings in the two tiers of the BGA are of different sizes to allow for wirebond landing pads on the first tier. A DRAM die is mounted to the BGA flipped over (i.e., wirebond pads facing the BGA package.) The DRAM die is wirebonded through the window in the BGA. For multi-channel systems and higher memory capacity, the DRAM die will have low-cost through-silicon vias (TSVs) that connect to stacked DRAM die(s). The stacked DRAM dies may be offset or rotated to align active TSVs with passive TSVs thereby enabling unique connections to certain DRAM dies in the stack. |
| US10026663B2 |
Semiconductor wafer and semiconductor device manufacturing method
A semiconductor device manufacturing method is provided. In a semiconductor wafer prepared, the width of a dicing line is larger than a cut region to be diced with a dicing blade, a first chip forming region and a second chip forming region are adjacent and have the dicing line therebetween, some of the pads are formed on a first chip forming region side, and the remaining pads are formed on a second chip forming region side. The semiconductor wafer is diced with the dicing blade in such manner that, when the some of the pads are diced, a part of the dicing blade on the second chip forming region side does not abut the some of the pads, and, when the remaining pads are diced, a part of the dicing blade on the first one chip forming region side does not abut the remaining pads. |
| US10026658B2 |
Methods for fabricating vertical-gate-all-around transistor structures
Systems and methods are provided for fabricating nanowire devices on a substrate. A first nanowire and a second nanowire are formed on a substrate, the first nanowire and the second nanowire extending substantially vertically relative to the substrate. A first source region and a first drain region are formed with n-type dopants, the first nanowire being disposed between the first source region and the first drain region. A second source region and a second drain region are formed with p-type dopants, the second nanowire being disposed between the second source region and the second drain region. |
| US10026657B2 |
Method for producing on the same transistors substrate having different characteristics
A method is provided for producing at least one first transistor and at least one second transistor on the same substrate, including producing at least one first gate pattern and at least one second gate pattern on the substrate; depositing at least one first protective layer on the first and the second gate patterns; depositing, on the first and the second gate patterns, at least a first protective layer and a second protective layer overlying the first protective layer, the second protective layer being made from a different material than that of the first protective layer; masking the second gate pattern by a masking layer; isotropic etching of the second protective layer; removing the masking layer; and anisotropic etching of the second protective layer selectively relative to the first protective layer. |
| US10026653B2 |
Variable gate lengths for vertical transistors
The method includes prior to depositing a gate on a first vertical FET on a semiconductor substrate, depositing a first layer on the first vertical FET on the semiconductor substrate. The method further includes prior to depositing a gate on a second vertical FET on the semiconductor substrate, depositing a second layer on the second vertical FET on the semiconductor substrate. The method further includes etching the first layer on the first vertical FET to a lower height than the second layer on the second vertical FET. The method further includes depositing a gate material on both the first vertical FET and the second vertical FET. The method further includes etching the gate material on both the first vertical FET and the second vertical FET to a co-planar height. |
| US10026652B2 |
Horizontal nanosheet FETs and method of manufacturing the same
Multi-Vt horizontal nanosheet devices and a method of making the same. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a plurality of horizontal nanosheet devices (hNS devices) on a top surface of a substrate, the plurality of hNS devices including a first hNS device and a second hNS device spaced apart from each other horizontally. Each of the hNS devices includes a first and a second horizontal nanosheets spaced apart vertically; and a gate stack between the first and second horizontal nanosheets, the gate stack including a work function metal (WFM) layer. A thickness of the first and second horizontal nanosheets of the first hNS device is different from a thickness of the first and second horizontal nanosheets of the second hNS device, and a thickness of the WFM layer of the first hNS device is different from a thickness of the WFM layer of the second hNS device. |
| US10026644B2 |
Fabricating method of non-volatile memory device
Provided is a fabrication method of a non-volatile memory device having a zigzag body wiring. First word lines and second word lines are formed on a substrate, wherein the first word lines and the second word lines are arranged periodically and extend in a first direction. Bit lines are formed over the first and second word lines, wherein a first distance from the first word lines to the substrate is smaller than a second distance from the second word lines to the substrate. |
| US10026638B2 |
Plasma distribution control
A system is configured to perform plasma related fabrication processes. The system includes a process chamber and a wafer stage positioned within the process chamber. The wafer stage is configured to secure a process wafer. The system further includes a bottom electrode positioned beneath the wafer stage, a top electrode positioned external to the chamber, and a plasma distribution mechanism. The plasma distribution mechanism is reconfigurable to allow for more than one plasma distribution profile. |
| US10026637B2 |
Polyimide resin, resin composition using same, and laminated film
A polyimide resin includes an acid anhydride residue; and a diamine residue, the polyimide resin including a residue of a polysiloxane diamine represented by Formula (1) in an amount of not less than 60% by mole in the total amount of the diamine residue: wherein, n is a natural number and an average value thereof calculated from the average molecular weight of the polysiloxane diamine is 45 to 200; R1 and R2, the same or different, each represent an alkylene group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms or a phenylene group; and R3 to R6, the same of different, each represent an alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, a phenyl group or a phenoxy group. |
| US10026636B2 |
Electrostatic chuck having reduced power loss
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to an electrostatic chuck having reduced power loss, and methods and apparatus for reducing power loss in an electrostatic chuck, as well as methods for testing and manufacture thereof. In one embodiment, an electrostatic chuck is provided. The electrostatic chuck includes a conductive base, and a ceramic body disposed on the conductive base, the ceramic body comprising an electrode and one or more heating elements embedded therein, wherein the ceramic body comprises a dissipation factor of about 0.11 to about 0.16 and a capacitance of about 750 picoFarads to about 950 picoFarads between the electrode and the one or more heating elements. |
| US10026632B2 |
Wafer processing system and wafer processing method using same
A system for processing a wafer may use a wafer identification (ID) assigned by a wafer manufacturing company as an ID code of the wafer in managing the wafer by a semiconductor manufacturing company. |
| US10026630B2 |
Retention and insulation features for lamp
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to an improved retention and insulation features for lamps used as a source of heat radiation in a thermal processing chamber. In one embodiment, a process chamber is provided. The process chamber includes a lamp assembly for thermal processing of semiconductor substrates, the lamp assembly has a lamp electrical connector and a first laterally operative element, a lamp assembly housing having a passage for receiving the lamp assembly, a power distribution assembly having a receptacle for receiving the lamp electrical connector and delivering power to the lamp electrical connector, and a spacer plate disposed between the lamp assembly housing and the power distribution assembly, wherein the spacer plate has a passage contoured to allow passage of the lamp electrical connector therethrough, and the spacer plate has a retention feature configured to engage or disengage the first laterally operative element. |
| US10026628B2 |
Semiconductor substrate cleaning method and cleaning system
The present invention relates to a method and a system for cleaning a semiconductor substrate wherein Al is at last partially exposed on a silicon substrate and silicided with a metallic substance without damaging the Al and a silicide layer. A cleaning portion cleans the aforementioned semiconductor substrate. A delivery portion, disposed on the cleaning portion, delivers a solution to the semiconductor substrate. A sulfuric acid solution transfer path connected onto the delivery portion transfers a sulfuric acid solution and an adsorptive inhibitor solution transfer path connected to the delivery path transfers an adsorptive inhibitor having any one or more of N-based, S-based, and P-based polar groups to the delivery portion. The sulfuric acid solution and the adsorptive inhibitor may be mixed or separately transferred to come into contact with the semiconductor substrate. |
| US10026621B2 |
SiN spacer profile patterning
Processing methods may be performed to form recesses in a semiconductor substrate. The methods may include oxidizing an exposed silicon nitride surface on a semiconductor substrate within a processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include forming an inert plasma within the processing region of the processing chamber. Effluents of the inert plasma may be utilized to modify the oxidized silicon nitride. A remote plasma may be formed from a fluorine-containing precursor to produce plasma effluents. The methods may include flowing the plasma effluents to the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may also include removing the modified oxidized silicon nitride from the semiconductor substrate. |
| US10026616B2 |
Method of reducing stress in metal film and metal film forming method
There is provided a method of reducing stress in a metal film that is highly stressed, the method including: processing the metal film by supplying a metal chloride gas containing a metal of the metal film and a reduction gas for reducing the metal chloride gas onto the metal film; and forming a process film on the metal film to reduce stress in the metal film. |
| US10026613B2 |
Utilization of angled trench for effective aspect ratio trapping of defects in strain-relaxed heteroepitaxy of semiconductor films
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to reducing dislocation density in a heteroepitaxial growth film and devices including heteroepitaxial films with reduced dislocation density. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, sidewalls of high aspect ratio trenches may be tilted or angled to allow defects in crystalline material formed in the high aspect ratio trenches to be terminated in the tilted sidewalls, including defects propagating along the length of the high aspect ratio trenches. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be used to reduce defects in heteroepitaxial growth on silicon (Si) for microelectronic applications, such as high mobility channels using Group III-V elements in field effect transistors. |
| US10026608B2 |
Array substrate, method for manufacturing the same, and display device
A method for manufacturing an array substrate comprises forming a pattern including an active layer, a gate insulating layer and a gate on a base substrate, and forming a pattern including an interlayer dielectric layer, a source, a drain and a pixel electrode through a single patterning process on the base substrate formed with the pattern of the active layer, the gate insulating layer and the gate. An array substrate and a display device are further provided. |
| US10026607B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus for forming film including at least two different elements
Provided is a technique of forming a film on a substrate by performing a cycle a predetermined number of times. The cycle includes: forming a first layer by supplying a gas containing a first element to the substrate, wherein the first layer is a discontinuous layer, a continuous layer, or a layer in which at least one of the discontinuous layer or the continuous layer is overlapped; forming a second layer including the first layer and a discontinuous layer including a second element stacked on the first layer; and forming a third layer by supplying a gas containing a third element to the substrate to modify the second layer under a condition where a modifying reaction of the second layer by the gas containing the third element is not saturated. |
| US10026606B2 |
Method for depositing a silicon nitride film
A method for depositing a silicon nitride film is provided. A nitrided adsorption site is formed in a recess formed in a surface of a substrate by supplying an ammonia-containing gas to the substrate for nitriding the surface of the substrate including the recess. A non-adsorption site is formed in a predetermined upper area of the recess by adsorbing a chlorine-containing gas on the nitride adsorption site in the predetermined upper area by physical adsorption. The predetermined upper area ranges from an upper end of the recess to a predetermined depth of the recess. A silicon-containing gas is adsorbed on the nitride adsorption site other than the predetermined upper area so as to deposit a silicon nitride film by a chemical reaction between the adsorbed ammonia-containing gas and the adsorbed silicon-containing gas. The nitride adsorption site includes a bottom surface of the recess. |
| US10026604B2 |
Semiconductor cleaner systems and methods
In an embodiment, the present invention discloses a EUV cleaner system and process for cleaning a EUV carrier. The euv cleaner system comprises separate dirty and cleaned environments, separate cleaning chambers for different components of the double container carrier, gripper arms for picking and placing different components using a same robot handler, gripper arms for holding different components at different locations, horizontal spin cleaning and drying for outer container, hot water and hot air (70 C) cleaning process, vertical nozzles and rasterizing megasonic nozzles for cleaning inner container with hot air nozzles for drying, separate vacuum decontamination chambers for outgassing different components, for example, one for inner and one for outer container with high vacuum (e.g., <10−6 Torr) with purge gas, heaters and RGA sensors inside the vacuum chamber, purge gas assembling station, and purge gas loading and unloading station. |
| US10026603B2 |
Manufacturing process of wafer thinning
A manufacturing process of wafer thinning includes a step of wafer-grinding to grind a surface of a wafer to a first predetermined thickness, and a step of wafer-etching to etch the grinded face of the wafer with the first predetermined thickness to a second predetermined thickness. |
| US10026597B2 |
Hydrogen plasma based cleaning process for etch hardware
The present disclosure provides methods for cleaning chamber components post substrate etching. In one example, a method for cleaning includes activating an etching gas mixture using a plasma to create an activated etching gas mixture, the etching gas mixture comprising hydrogen-containing precursor and a fluorine-containing precursor and delivering the activated etching gas mixture to a processing region of a process chamber, the process chamber having an edge ring positioned therein, the edge ring comprising a catalyst and anticatalytic material, wherein the activated gas removes the anticatalytic material from the edge ring. |
| US10026596B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus
A substrate processing apparatus includes: a cylindrical shaped chamber configured to accommodate a substrate; a movable electrode capable of moving along a central axis of the cylindrical shaped chamber within the cylindrical shaped chamber; a facing electrode facing the movable electrode within the cylindrical shaped chamber; and an expansible/contractible partition wall connecting the movable electrode with an end wall on one side of the cylindrical shaped chamber. A high frequency power is applied to a first space between the movable electrode and the facing electrode, a processing gas is introduced thereto, and the movable electrode is not in contact with a sidewall of the cylindrical shaped chamber, a first dielectric member is provided at the cylindrical shaped chamber's sidewall facing the movable electrode, and an overlap area between the first dielectric member and a side surface of the movable electrode is changed according to movement of the movable electrode. |
| US10026592B2 |
Systems and methods for tailoring ion energy distribution function by odd harmonic mixing
Systems and methods for controlling a process applied to a substrate within a plasma chamber are described. The systems and methods include generating and supplying odd harmonic signals and summing the odd harmonic signals to generate an added signal. The added signal is supplied to an electrode within the plasma chamber for processing the substrate. The use of odd harmonic signals facilitates high aspect ratio etching of the substrate. |
| US10026590B2 |
Fiducial design for tilted or glancing mill operations with a charged particle beam
A method for analyzing a sample with a charged particle beam including directing the beam toward the sample surface; milling the surface to expose a second surface in the sample in which the end of the second surface distal to ion source is milled to a greater depth relative to a reference depth than the end of the first surface proximal to ion source; directing the charged particle beam toward the second surface to form one or more images of the second surface; forming images of the cross sections of the multiple adjacent features of interest by detecting the interaction of the electron beam with the second surface; assembling the images of the cross section into a three-dimensional model of one or more of the features of interest. A method for forming an improved fiducial and determining the depth of an exposed feature in a nanoscale three-dimensional structure is presented. |
| US10026587B2 |
Sample holder for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM)
The present invention refers to a two-systems compact specimen holder (SH) easy to use which enables to analyze the same sample by employing either an atomic force microscope (AFM) or a scanning electron microscope (SEM), by preserving the setting reference of the details for both microscopies, so that it satisfies the requirements of size, conductivity, magnetization, tidiness, reference and adaptability.The capacity of preserving the location reference of the details for both microscopies, in the scope of correlational microscopy, results essential to obtain information and images in both fields of microscopy, which can be correlated in order to acquire valuable combined information. |
| US10026583B2 |
Discrete dynode electron multiplier fabrication method
A process of fabricating a discrete-dynode electron multiplier (DDEM) including the steps of mounting an insulator block to a conductor block, and forming a series of ion-optics geometrical structures in the conductor block, each ion-optics geometrical structure having a smallest dimension of less than 1 millimeter. The forming step may be performed by electrical discharge machining (EDM), laser cutting, and/or water jet cutting. |
| US10026581B2 |
Switch override system for recreation vehicle controls
A vehicle system including a housing, an extendable/retractable member coupled to the housing, an electrically controlled actuator and an override system. The electrically controlled actuator is connected to the extendable/retractable member, and is configured to extend and retract the extendable/retractable member relative to the housing. The override system includes a selector switch and an activation switch. The selector switch allows a selection of one of the plurality of electrically controlled actuators which is defined as a selected actuator. The activation switch activates the selected actuator to either extend or retract the extendable/retractable member associated with the selected actuator. |
| US10026576B2 |
DC operated polarized electromagnet and electromagnetic contactor using the same
The DC operated polarized electromagnet includes a spool around which an excitation coil is wound and that has a central opening, a plunger having first and second armatures, fitted individually, an outer yoke enclosing opposing side faces of the spool so as to attract the first armature, an inner yoke arranged on the inner side of the outer yoke so as to attract the second armature, and permanent magnets arranged between the outer yoke and the inner yoke, and reduces magnetoresistance by setting the thickness of the outer yoke thicker than the thickness of the inner yoke so that convergent magnetic flux in the plunger is diverted into the outer yoke. |
| US10026569B2 |
Modular switch panel assembly
In a modular switch panel assembly, a switch cover with an aperture and a switch button having a button portion and an integral mounting portion are provided. The mounting portion comprises at least first and second spring members protruding laterally of and at opposite sides of the button portion. Each of the spring members has a meandering path shape and has one end integral with the button portion and an opposite end attached to the switch cover such that the button portion extends through the aperture. A printed circuit board has a switch, and is attached to the switch cover such that the switch is adjacent to a bottom surface of the switch button. |
| US10026559B2 |
Electrolytic capacitor and manufacturing method for same
An electrolytic capacitor includes an anode body, a dielectric layer disposed on the anode body, and a cathode body. An organic polymer attached to the dielectric layer is disposed between the dielectric layer and the cathode body. The organic polymer has one or more groups selected from an acidic group and residues of the acidic group, and at least one of the one or more groups is incorporated into the dielectric layer. |
| US10026551B2 |
Magnetic capacitor structures
The present disclosure provides a magnetic capacitor structure including a first electrode, a second electrode opposite to the first electrode, a dielectric layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, a first magnetic layer disposed between the first electrode and the dielectric layer, a second magnetic layer disposed between the second electrode and the dielectric layer, a first oxide layer disposed between the first electrode and the first magnetic layer, and a second oxide layer disposed between the second magnetic layer and the dielectric layer. |
| US10026548B2 |
Reactor and manufacturing method thereof
First and second divisional cores each including right and left leg portions and a yoke interconnecting those together are formed by molding respective yoke-side core members in a resin. Cylindrical core mounting portions extending from the outer circumference of the surface of the yoke-side core member are formed integrally with the respective right and left leg portions of the first divisional core. I-shaped leg-portion-side core members and spacers are attached in the cylindrical core mounting portion formed in each of the right and left leg portions. The surface of the yoke-side core member molded in the resin and the surface of the leg-portion-side core member are disposed so as to have a spacer therebetween. The two divisional cores are joined together by butting respective leg portions of the two divisional cores with each other to form an annular mold core, and a coil is wound around the mold core. |
| US10026543B2 |
Coil component and method for manufacturing the same
A coil component includes a core including a winding portion and a flange portion extending from a first end of the winding portion, a coil wound around the winding portion, a lead formed at the flange portion, and a cover coupled to the flange portion and covering at least a portion of the coil. |
| US10026542B2 |
Shielding for an inductive device with central first winding connection
An inductive device including a first and second concentric winding wound around a center axis of the inductive device, where the second winding is placed outside of the first winding and provided in two separate parts a first upper part and a second lower part, wherein there is an opening between the first and second parts of the second winding and the first winding has a first winding connection that passes through said opening, the inductive device further including a concentric electric shielding element around the center axis and stretching all the way between the upper and the lower part of the second winding, the shielding element including a metal shield layer. |
| US10026536B2 |
Holding apparatus, mounting system, and method for holding components during mounting
This relates to a holding apparatus for holding a component during mounting. The holding apparatus comprises at least a first holding unit including at least one magnetic field generating device for generating a magnetic field, and at least a second magnetic holding unit spaced apart from the first holding unit in a predetermined distance for receiving the component. A holding force for holding the component between the first holding unit and the second holding unit is generated in the second magnetic holding unit as a result of induction and by means of a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating device. The embodiment also comprises a mounting system and a method for holding components by means of such holding apparatuses. |
| US10026535B2 |
Mechanical magnetic connector structure
A mechanical-magnetic connector structure for releasably connecting a first element with a second element is herein described. The connector structure includes a dongle attached to the first element, a receiver assembly attached to the second element and having a bore, and a rotating knob assembly attached to the receiver assembly and rotatable between an open and closed position to unlock or lock the dongle within the bore. With the rotating knob assembly rotated to the closed position, the dongle no longer is completely concentric within the bore, such that a user is prevented from applying any offset, angled, or indirect pull force on the dongle in an effort to remove it. The dongle can only be removed if completely concentric within the bore and the rotating knob assembly has been rotated to the open position. |
| US10026532B2 |
R-T-B based sintered magnet
An R-T-B based sintered magnet includes “R”, “T”, and “B”. “R” represents a rare earth element. “T” represents a metal element other than rare earth elements including at least Fe, Cu, Mn, Al, Co, Ga, and Zr. “B” represents boron or boron and carbon. With respect to 100 mass % of a total mass of the R-T-B based sintered magnet, a content of “R” is 28.0 to 31.5 mass %, a content of Cu is 0.04 to 0.50 mass %, a content of Mn is 0.02 to 0.10 mass %, a content of Al is 0.15 to 0.30 mass %, a content of Co is 0.50 to 3.0 mass %, a content of Ga is 0.08 to 0.30 mass %, a content of Zr is 0.10 to 0.25 mass %, and a content of “B” is 0.85 to 1.0 mass %. |
| US10026530B2 |
Increased resonant frequency potassium-doped hexagonal ferrite
Disclosed herein are embodiments of an enhanced resonant frequency hexagonal ferrite material and methods of manufacturing. The hexagonal ferrite material can be Y-phase strontium hexagonal ferrite material. In some embodiments, strontium can be substituted out for a trivalent or tetravalent ion composition including potassium, thereby providing for advantageous properties. |
| US10026525B2 |
Threaded reflective cord and manufacturing method thereof
A threaded reflective cord comprises a jacket and an inner cord; the inner cord comprising more than two stranded wires twisted helically and an cladding covered on the wire strands; wherein the cladding having an inner side thereof is embedded into a helical gap which is formed when the stranded wires are twisted helically; the helical gap forms and keeps an inward pre-tightening force on the stranded wires, the jacket and the inner cord having a reflective tape disposed therebetween, the reflective tape being spirally wounded on an outer side of the cladding; the jacket having an inner side thereof is coated on the cladding and embedded into a helical groove which is formed when the reflective tape is spirally wounded on the outer side of the cladding; the flexural resistance of the threaded reflective cord and the reflection performance are enhanced. |
| US10026524B2 |
Electrode substrate film and method of manufacturing the same
[Object] Provided are an electrode substrate film which does not cause trouble in a process to create a circuit pattern formed of a metal thin line and in which the circuit pattern is less visible even under highly bright illumination, and a method of manufacturing the same.[Solving Means] An electrode substrate film with a transparent substrate 52 and a metal laminate thin line includes a metal absorption layer 51 with a film thickness of 20 nm to 30 nm inclusive as a first layer, and a metal layer 50 as a second layer, counted from the transparent substrate side. Optical constants of the metal absorption layer in a visible wavelength range (400 to 780 nm) satisfy conditions that a refractive index is 1.8 to 2.2 and an extinction coefficient is 1.8 to 2.4 at a wavelength of 400 nm, the refractive index is 2.2 to 2.7 and the extinction coefficient is 1.9 to 2.8 at a wavelength of 500 nm, the refractive index is 2.5 to 3.2 and the extinction coefficient is 1.9 to 3.1 at a wavelength of 600 nm, the refractive index is 2.7 to 3.6 and the extinction coefficient is 1.7 to 3.3 at a wavelength of 700 nm, and the refractive index is 3.1 to 3.8 and the extinction coefficient is 1.5 to 3.4 at a wavelength of 780 nm. The highest reflectance in the visible wavelength range attributed to reflection at an interface between the transparent substrate and the metal absorption layer is 40% or less. |
| US10026520B2 |
Positive electrode active material for secondary battery
Provided is a cathode active material for a secondary battery, specifically, a cathode active material for a secondary battery including sodium transition metal pyrophosphate satisfying Na3.12−x2Acx1M1ay1M2by2 (P2O7)z, which has an advantage of structural stability due to a strong P—O bond of sodium transition metal phosphate having an olivine structure, and also performs proper intercalation and deintercalation of Na ions having a large ion radius, thereby significantly improving reversibility during charging and discharging, and a charge and discharge rate. |
| US10026516B2 |
Collimator apparatus, radiation system, and method for controlling collimators
There is provided a collimator apparatus including a first collimator configured to prevent a leakage of radiation, wherein a target for converting electron beam emitted from an electron beam source into the radiation is disposed in the first collimator, and a second collimator, wherein the radiation passes through the second collimator along a central axis of the second collimator, the second collimator being disposed in an inner space formed in the first collimator, a gap between a surface of the inner space and the second collimator being provided, wherein the second collimator swings within the inner space of the first collimator. |
| US10026510B2 |
Process for the synthesis of a mixed peroxide or hydroxo-peroxide of an actinyl and of at least one doubly, triply or quadruply charged metal cation, mixed peroxide or hydroxo-peroxide thus obtained and uses thereof
A process is described for synthesizing a mixed peroxide or hydroxo-peroxide of an actinyl and at least one cation X1, wherein the actinyl is a uranyl or neptunyl and the at least one cation X1 is a di-, tri- or tetra-charged metal cation. This process includes the reaction in a solvent of a salt of the at least one cation X1 with a compound C2 selected from mixed peroxides and hydroxo-peroxides of the actinyl and of at least one singly charged cation X2, whereby compound C2 is converted to the peroxide or hydroxo-peroxide by replacement of the at least one cation X2 by said at least one cation X1. Also disclosed is a process for synthesizing a mixed oxide of an actinide selected from uranium and neptunium, and of at least one metal able to form a di-, tri- or tetra-charged cation, which implements the preceding synthesis process. The disclosure further relates to a mixed peroxide or hydroxo-peroxide of an actinyl and of at least one di-, tri- or tetra-charged metal cation, and the use thereof for the preparation of a mixed oxide of an actinide and of at least this metal. |
| US10026509B2 |
Low bandwidth media stream transmission
In general, this disclosure describes media stream transmission techniques for a field computing device and a central computing device. The central computing device may capture an image of a local background environment. The central computing device may record a first media stream that includes at least a portion of the image of the background environment and at least one movement of at least one object through the background environment. The central computing device may remove the image of the background environment from the first media stream to create a second media stream that includes the movement of the object through the background environment without the image of the background environment. The second media stream may also include timing information that can be synchronized to timing information for a media stream originating at the field computing device such that the second media stream may be superimposed on the field media stream. |
| US10026507B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing a care service
A method manages a care service by a terminal apparatus of a caregiver. The method includes recognizing a smart card of a patient, receiving encrypted data including encrypted time information from the smart card, the encrypted time information being generated at the smart card by encrypting time information corresponding to a point in time when the terminal apparatus recognizes the smart card, and transmitting the encrypted data to a management server. The encrypted data is generated by the smart card using an encryption key and decrypted by the management server using a decryption key corresponding to the encryption key. A time corresponding to time information acquired from the decrypted data is stored in the management server as a care service providing time. |
| US10026502B2 |
Method and memory controller
A method includes setting a first logical value in a control register provided in a variable delay control circuit that is included in a memory controller, detecting a first stuck-at fault of a second logical value that is a value except for the first logical value, the first stuck-at fault having occurred in one of a plurality of control lines, in accordance with a result of a comparison between a logical value output from the memory controller and an expected value of the logical value, setting the second logical value in the memory controller, and detecting a second stuck-at fault of the first logical value, the second stuck-at fault having occurred in one of the plurality of control lines, in accordance with a result of a comparison between a logical value output from the memory controller and an expected value of the logical value. |
| US10026500B2 |
Address translation stimuli generation for post-silicon functional validation
A method for generating address translation stimuli for post-silicon functional validation is provided. The method includes determining a plurality of memory configurations based on a plurality of translation tables used by a stimuli generator to solve a plurality of test templates, providing a test template from the plurality of test templates, selecting a memory configuration from the plurality of memory configurations based on the test template, a memory variable, and a set of testing parameters, identifying a translation table from the plurality of translation tables based on the test template, allocating a memory space for the translation table, and executing the test template on the stimuli generator based on the translation table, the memory space, and the set of testing parameters. |
| US10026499B2 |
Memory testing system
Techniques are disclosed relating to memory testing. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit is disclosed that includes a memory and an interface circuit. The interface circuit is configured to receive one or more testing signals from a built in self-test (BIST) unit. The interface circuit is further configured to receive, independently from the one or more testing signals, one or more configuration signals from automated test equipment (ATE). The interface circuit is further configured to issue one or more instruction signals to the memory based on the one or more testing signals and based on the one or more configuration signals. In some embodiments, the interface circuit is configured to enable the BIST unit to detect errors in functions the BIST unit is not designed to test. |
| US10026495B2 |
Method of controlling magnetization state using imprinting technique
A method of controlling a magnetization state using an imprinting technique may be provided. The method may include moving first and second magnetic structures, which have different magnetization states, toward each other and changing a magnetization state of the first or second magnetic structure, when a distance between the first and second magnetic structures is reduced. A magnetic field, which is produced by a magnetization state of one of the first and second magnetic structures, may be used to align a magnetization state of the other, when the magnetization state of the first or second magnetic structure is changed. |
| US10026493B1 |
PPA (power performance area) efficient architecture for rom (read only memory) and a ROM bitcell without a transistor
Described herein is a ROM architecture featuring a ROM bitcell without a transistor, a ROM architecture wherein the bitcell device gate goes to a column address and the local bitline is sensed per row per mux, a ROM architecture wherein the bitcell device gate goes to the column address and the full row of bitcells is enabled by a row enable signal, and a ROM architecture wherein the bitcell device gate goes to the row address and the full column of bitcells is enabled by a column enable signal. The presently described architectures provide large advantages in terms of PPA. |
| US10026491B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and memory system
A semiconductor memory device includes memory cells, a sense amplifier unit including a first latch circuit, and a control unit configured to execute read and write operations on the memory cells. The control unit, while executing the write operation on the memory cells, responsive to a write suspend command followed by a read command, performs a data saving operation, the read operation, and a data restoring operation prior to resuming the write operation. The data saving operation includes transferring first data stored in the first latch circuit to an external device, the first data including at least a result of verify operation performed on the memory cells. The data restoring operation includes transferring the first data to the first latch circuit. |
| US10026489B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and operating method thereof
The present technique relates to an electronic device, and more particularly, to a semiconductor memory device and an operating method thereof. A semiconductor memory device having improved reliability includes an address decoder applying a program voltage to a selected word line coupled to selected memory cells, among the plurality of memory cells, and a read and write circuit applying a program permission voltage or a program inhibition voltage to bit lines coupled to the selected memory cells, and a control logic controlling the read and write circuit to sequentially apply the program permission voltage and the program inhibition voltage to the bit lines coupled to the selected memory cells when the program voltage is applied. |
| US10026483B1 |
Program temperature aware data scrub
Techniques disclosed herein cope with cross-temperature effects in non-volatile memory systems. One technology disclosed herein includes an apparatus and method that scrubs a block of non-volatile memory cells responsive to a determination that variance in word line program temperatures in the block exceeds a threshold. Such blocks having large variance in programming temperatures for different word lines can potentially have high BERs when reading. This may be due to the difficulty in having one set of read levels that are optimum for all word lines in the block. |
| US10026479B2 |
Content addressable memory device having electrically floating body transistor
A content addressable memory cell includes a first floating body transistor and a second floating body transistor. The first floating body transistor and the second floating body transistor are electrically connected in series through a common node. The first floating body transistor and the second floating body transistor store complementary data. |
| US10026478B1 |
Biasing scheme for multi-layer cross-point ReRAM
Systems and methods for improving the performance of a non-volatile memory array during a memory operation by concurrently applying two different selected word line voltages to two different word lines within the non-volatile memory array are described. The memory operation may comprise a write operation or a combination of SET and RESET operations. The memory array may include a first word line connected to a first set of memory cells, a second word line connected to a second set of memory cells, and a third word line connected to a third set of memory cells. During the memory operation, the first word line may be set to a first selected word line voltage (e.g., 3V), the second word line may be set to a second selected word line voltage (e.g., 0V), and the third word line may be set to an unselected word line voltage (e.g., 1.5V). |
| US10026475B2 |
Adaptive configuration of non-volatile memory
Examples are disclosed for adaptive configuration of non-volatile memory. The examples include a mode register configured to include default and updated values to indicate one or more configurations of the non-volatile memory. The examples may also include discoverable capabilities maintained in a configuration table that may indicate memory address lengths and/or operating power states. |
| US10026474B2 |
Switched memristor analog tuning
Switched memristor analog tuning employs a switch-selectable programmed resistance to tune a resistance-tunable analog circuit. A plurality of switched memristors is to provide the switch-selectable programmed resistance. The resistance-tunable analog circuit is connected to the plurality of switched memristors. The switch-selectable programmed resistance is to tune an analog attribute of the resistance-tunable analog circuit. |
| US10026470B2 |
SRAM arrays and methods of manufacturing same
An embodiment static random access memory (SRAM) array includes a first SRAM mini array having a first plurality of functional SRAM cells in a first column of the SRAM array. Each of the first plurality of functional SRAM cells share a first bit line (BL). The SRAM array further includes a second SRAM mini array having a second plurality of functional SRAM cells in the first column. Each of the second plurality of functional SRAM cells share a second BL independently controlled from the first BL. The SRAM array further includes and a SRAM dummy array between the first SRAM mini array and the second SRAM mini array. The SRAM dummy array includes a plurality of SRAM array abut dummy cells in the first column. A first endpoint of the first BL and a second endpoint of the second BL are disposed in the SRAM dummy array. |
| US10026469B2 |
Semiconductor device performing write operation and write leveling operation
A semiconductor device includes an input clock generation circuit able to shift a write command in synchronization with a clock, and generating first and second input clocks. The semiconductor device also includes a write leveling control circuit able to divide a frequency of the clock in response to a write leveling control signal, and generating first to fourth write clocks. The semiconductor device includes a signal transfer circuit able to transfer the first and second input clocks as first and second transfer clocks in a write operation, and transferring the first to fourth write clocks as first to fourth transfer clocks in a write leveling operation. |
| US10026468B2 |
DRAM with segmented word line switching circuit for causing selection of portion of rows and circuitry for a variable page width control scheme
This description is directed to a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) array having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. The array further includes a plurality of cells, each of which are associated with one of the columns and one of the rows. Each cell includes a capacitor that is selectively coupled to a bit line of its associate column so as to share charge with the bit line when the cell is selected. There is a segmented word line circuit for each row, which is controllable to cause selection of only a portion of the cells in the row. |
| US10026466B2 |
Staggered exit from memory power-down
An integrated circuit includes a physical layer interface having a control timing domain and a data timing domain, and circuits that enable the control timing domain during a change in power conservation mode in response to a first event, and that enable the data timing domain in response to a second event. The control timing domain can include interface circuits coupled to a command and address path, and the data timing domain can include interface circuits coupled to a data path. |
| US10026458B2 |
Memories and methods for performing vector atomic memory operations with mask control and variable data length and data unit size
Memories and methods for performing an atomic memory operation are disclosed, including a memory having a memory store, operation logic, and a command decoder. Operation logic can be configured to receive data and perform operations thereon in accordance with internal control signals. A command decoder can be configured to receive command packets having at least a memory command portion in which a memory command is provided and data configuration portion in which configuration information related to data associated with a command packet is provided. The command decoder is further configured to generate a command control signal based at least in part on the memory command and further configured to generate control signal based at least in part on the configuration information. |
| US10026456B2 |
Bitline positive boost write-assist circuits for memory bit cells employing a P-type Field-Effect transistor (PFET) write port(s), and related systems and methods
Write-assist circuits for memory bit cells (“bit cells”) employing a P-type Field-Effect transistor (PFET) write port(s) are disclosed. Related methods and systems are also disclosed. It has been observed that as node technology is scaled down in size, PFET drive current (i.e., drive strength) exceeds N-type Field-Effect transistor (NFET) drive current for like-dimensioned FETs. In this regard, in one aspect, it is desired to provide bit cells having PFET write ports, as opposed to NFET write ports, to reduce memory write times to the bit cells, and thus improve memory performance. To mitigate a write contention that could otherwise occur when writing data to bit cells, a write-assist circuit provided in the form of positive bitline boost circuit can be employed to strengthen a PFET access transistor in a memory bit cell having a PFET write port(s). |
| US10026454B2 |
Storage system with cross flow cooling of power supply unit
Apparatus and method for cooling a power supply unit in a storage system. In some embodiments, a storage system includes a first section for receiving a plurality of storage media, a second section having a power supply unit, and a plenum arranged in communication with the first and second sections. The power supply unit has an inlet for receiving air, an outlet for exhausting air and an airflow generator which generates airflow therethrough, where the inlet and the outlet are in fluidic communication with the plenum. |
| US10026453B1 |
Hard disk tray and hard disk rack assembly
A hard disk tray adapted for accommodating a hard disk having a plurality of screw holes at two sides is provided. The hard disk tray includes a body and a cover. The body includes two body lateral walls and a plurality of fixing members protruding from the two body lateral walls and corresponding to at least a part of the screw holes. The cover is pivoted to the body and includes two cover lateral walls. When the hard disk is placed in the hard disk tray, the fixing members extend into the at least a part of the screw holes, and when the cover is closed to the body, the two cover lateral walls are located outside the two body lateral walls so as to prevent the two body lateral walls from moving outwardly. A hard disk rack assembly is further provided. |
| US10026452B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating 3D audio positioning using dynamically optimized audio 3D space perception cues
An apparatus generating audio cues for content indicative of the position of audio objects within the content comprising: an audio processor receiving raw audio tracks for said content and information indicative of the positions of at least some of said audio tracks within frames of said content, said audio processor generating corresponding audio parameters; an authoring tool receiving said audio parameters and generating encoding coefficients, said audio parameters including audio cue of the position of audio objects corresponding to said tracks in at least one spatial dimension; and a first audio/video encoder receiving an input and encoding said input into an audio visual content having visual objects and audio objects, said audio objects being disposed at location corresponding to said one spatial position, said encoder using said encoding coefficients for said encoding. |
| US10026451B2 |
Video camera with capture modes
Embodiments provide a video camera that can be configured to allow tagging of recorded video and/or capture of video segments or sequences of images in response to user actuation of a camera control identifying an event of interest. For example, a user may press a button on the camera when an event of interest occurs, and in response the camera may tag a captured video file at a timestamp corresponding to the event. In another example, the user may initiate capture of video segments or sequences of images at an occurrence of an event of interest by pressing a button. The camera may include an image data buffer that may enable capture of video segments and/or sequences of images occurring before the user initiates capture of the event. User interfaces may enable the user to quickly review the captured video or sequences of images of the events of interest. |
| US10026450B2 |
Content processing and distribution system and method
A system and method for instructing rendering of a video sequence, the method being carried out on a first device and comprising: receiving video content from a camera; determining a video sequence, the video sequence comprising a selection of the received video content and one or more video assets, wherein each video asset is associated with an identifier; determining instructions for generating the video sequence, the instructions comprising the identifiers of the one or more video assets; and sending the instructions and the selection of the received video content to a second device, wherein the second device is arranged to render the video sequence. |
| US10026446B2 |
Intelligent playback method for video records based on a motion information and apparatus thereof
The present invention relates to data application technologies in the field of video surveillance, and discloses an intelligent playback method for video records based on a motion information and an apparatus thereof. The method comprises the following steps: searching for all motion detection additional information conforming to a time period of a playback request in a hard disc, and storing the motion detection additional information as a motion information in a motion information linked list in terms of a time sequence; obtaining a current playback mode and a current playback time, and looking up a nearest motion information under the current playback mode and the current playback time from the motion information linked list; matching the found nearest motion information with the current playback time; controlling a playback speed according to a matching result, so as to implement an automatic control of an intelligent playback speed. A real-time, automatic, continuous control of a playback speed can be implemented by repeating performing the above steps, so that automatically adjusting to a normal playback speed when there is motion data and automatically adjusting to a rapid playback when there is no motion data are implemented, and a playback time of video records can be reduced. |
| US10026445B1 |
Data storage library with interior access regulation
A data storage library system includes at least one data storage library comprising at least one library frame and at least one environmental conditioning unit, the at least one environmental conditioning unit configured to control one or more environmental conditions within the at least one library frame. The system further includes at least one access door for providing access to an interior portion of the data storage library, a library controller, and at least one warning indicator associated with the data storage library and in electronic communication with the library controller. The at least one warning indicator is configured to provide an indication to an operator when the conditions within the data storage library are such that the at least one access door may be opened and when the conditions within the data storage library are such that the access door should not be opened. |
| US10026444B2 |
Recording tape cartridge configured to suppress damage to guide wall portions that are orthogonal to a loading direction
A recording tape cartridge includes two first guide wall portions formed in a direction orthogonal to a loading direction of the case into a drive device and between which a first protruding wall portion formed at a brake member is insertable, and two second guide wall portions and two third guide wall portions formed at regular intervals from the first guide wall portions in a circumferential direction. A second protruding wall portion at the brake member is insertable between the second guide wall portions, and a third protruding wall portion at the brake member is insertable between the third guide wall portions. An interval, α, between each first guide wall portion and the first protruding wall portion, and an interval, β, between each second guide wall portion and the second protruding wall portion and between each third guide wall portion and the third protruding wall portion satisfy “α≥2×β”. |
| US10026437B2 |
Information processing device, information recording medium, information processing method, and program
To determine whether or not a correct continuous reproduction disk has been attached, and perform control in accordance with a determination result in a data reproduction process including a first information recording medium and a second information recording medium. A first root certificate transform value is calculated by applying a first transform function to data constituting a first root certificate recorded in the first information recording medium and a second root certificate transform value is calculated by applying a second transform function to data constituting a second root certificate recorded in the second information recording medium. Transform values based on first and second root certificates are compared. A process under execution is continued when the first and second root certificate transform values match. However, the process under execution is stooped or a warning is output when the first and second root certificate transform values do not match. |
| US10026436B2 |
Apparatus and methods for supporting workpieces during plasma processing
Apparatus and methods for simultaneously supporting multiple workpieces inside a processing space of a plasma processing system for simultaneous two-sided plasma processing. The apparatus may be a fixture having a carrier plate configured to be supported inside the processing space and a plurality of first openings extending through the thickness of the carrier plate. The carrier plate is configured to contact each of the workpieces over an annular region at an outer peripheral edge so that the first and second sides of each of the workpieces is exposed to the plasma through a respective one of said plurality of first openings. |
| US10026434B2 |
Magnetic tape having controlled surface properties of the magnetic layer and method of manufacturing the same
The magnetic tape has a magnetic layer containing ferromagnetic powder and binder on a nonmagnetic support, wherein the centerline average surface roughness Ra as measured on the surface on the magnetic layer side of the magnetic tape is less than or equal to 1.8 nm, and the logarithmic decrement as determined by a pendulum viscoelasticity test on the surface on the magnetic layer side of the magnetic tape is less than or equal to 0.050. |
| US10026431B2 |
Magnetic shift register
This disclosure relates to a memory device that includes at least one magnetic track on a substrate, wherein the at least one magnetic track comprises one or more magnetic domains. Contacts can be disposed on the at least one magnetic track according to a predetermined arrangement to form a plurality of bitcells on the at least one magnetic track, wherein each one of the plurality of bitcells is configured to store at least one magnetic domain. The device can include a timing circuit connected to the contacts, with the timing circuit being configured to apply to the contacts multiple phases of electric currents according to a predetermined timing sequence to cause the at least one magnetic domain to shift from the each one of the plurality of bitcells to an adjacent one of the plurality of bitcells on the at least one magnetic track. |
| US10026426B2 |
Magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) free layer damping reduction
In one embodiment, a system includes a sensor, the sensor having a free layer, a ferromagnetic spin sink layer spaced from the free layer, the spin sink layer being operative to reduce a spin-induced damping in the free layer during operation of the sensor, and a nonmagnetic spacer layer positioned between the free layer and the spin sink layer, the spacer layer having a long spin-diffusion length. |
| US10026422B1 |
Write pole with low wall angle
A data writer may be configured with a write pole that has one or more sidewalls continuously extending from an air bearing surface. A write pole sidewall can have a plurality of different wall angles. A portion of a write pole sidewall contacting the air bearing surface can have a first wall angle with respect to a trailing edge of the write pole, parallel to the air bearing surface. A second portion of the write pole sidewall can be half or less of the first wall angle. A third portion of the write pole sidewall can be smaller than the second wall angle. |
| US10026421B1 |
Hyperbolic metamaterial-based near-field transducer for heat assisted magnetic recording head
An apparatus comprises a slider configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording. A near-field transducer comprising a peg is situated at or near an air bearing surface of the slider, and an optical waveguide of the slider is configured to couple light from a light source to the near-field transducer. The peg comprises a hyperbolic metamaterial, and the near-field transducer may further include an enlarged portion from which the peg extends, where the enlarged portion may also comprise a hyperbolic metamaterial. |
| US10026419B2 |
Multisensory speech detection
A computer-implemented method of multisensory speech detection is disclosed. The method comprises determining an orientation of a mobile device and determining an operating mode of the mobile device based on the orientation of the mobile device. The method further includes identifying speech detection parameters that specify when speech detection begins or ends based on the determined operating mode and detecting speech from a user of the mobile device based on the speech detection parameters. |
| US10026418B2 |
Abnormal frame detection method and apparatus
An abnormal frame detection method and apparatus are disclosed. In an embodiment the method includes obtaining a signal frame from a speech signal, and dividing the signal frame into at least two subframes; obtaining a local energy value of a subframe of the signal frame; obtaining, according to the local energy value of the subframe, a first characteristic value used to indicate a local energy trend of the signal frame; performing singularity analysis on the signal frame to obtain a second characteristic value; and determining the signal frame as an abnormal frame if the first characteristic value meets a first threshold and the second characteristic value meets a second threshold. It is implemented whether distortion occurs in a speech signal is detected. |
| US10026417B2 |
Audio driven accelerated binge watch
Example embodiments provide systems and methods for accelerating digital content playback based on speech. A content acceleration system electronically accesses digital content. The system analyzes the digital content to detect at least one audio portion within the digital content, each of the at least one audio portion comprising speech. The system creates at least one digital content segment from the digital content based on the at least one audio portion, whereby a beginning of each digital content segment of the at least one digital content segment coincides with a beginning of a corresponding audio portion of the at least one audio portion. The system then accelerates playback of the digital content by fast forwarding through parts of the at least one digital content segment where speech is absent. |
| US10026413B2 |
Methods, apparatuses for forming audio signal payload and audio signal payload
It is disclosed inter alia a method for forming an audio payload frame, wherein the audio payload frame comprises: an encoded audio data frame with a first marker bit at the front of the encoded audio data frame, wherein the first marker is set to a first value, and wherein the first value denotes a type of encoded audio data in the encoded audio data frame; an extension encoded audio data frame; and a second marker bit in front of the first marker bit, wherein the second marker bit is set to a second value; and wherein the second value denotes a type of encoded audio data other than the type of encoded audio data in the encoded audio data frame. |
| US10026406B2 |
Vehicle and control method thereof
A vehicle of outputting a sound using a difference between a human's audible frequency and a pet's audible frequency, and a method of controlling the vehicle are provided. The vehicle includes a sound processor that is configured to tune and mix a sound and a sound controller that is configured to determine a sound being output as one of a first sound having a frequency within a human's audible frequency range and a second sound having a frequency beyond the human's audible frequency range. When a command for reproducing another sound other than the determined sound is received, the sound processor is configured to mix the determined sound with the other sound corresponding to the command and a speaker is then configured to output the mixed sound. |
| US10026395B1 |
Methods and systems for extracting auditory features with neural networks
A system extracting features from a time-varying signal comprising a computer processor and a computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for providing: a bank of bandpass filters; a module approximating the output of those filters with nonlinear components; a module representing a decorrelated projection of the output of the filters with nonlinear components; and a module representing the temporal derivative of the decorrelated information with nonlinear components. |
| US10026393B2 |
Systems and methods for providing non-lexical cues in synthesized speech
Systems and methods may provide non-lexical cues in synthesized speech. A system may generate response text and a response intent based on user input. Non-lexical cue insertion points are determined based on the characteristics of the text and/or the intent. One or more non-lexical cues are inserted at insertion points to generate augmented text. The augmented text is synthesized into speech using speech units associated with the response text and the inserted response intent. |
| US10026387B2 |
Sound absorbing sandwich plate
A sound absorbing sandwich plate for attaching to a component includes a first layer and a second layer connected to the first layer in an areal manner characterized in that, at least partially, especially along the second layer at least an area-shaped mounting part is provided, which at its side facing the second layer has a plurality of engaging elements, which are engageable into the second layer. |
| US10026384B2 |
Reduced air leakage harmonica reed unit
A reduced air leakage harmonica reed unit contains a reed plate and a plurality of reed sections. The plurality of reed sections is attached to the reed plate with a fastening mechanism and positioned within a body of the harmonica. The reed plate consists of a plate body and a plurality of receiving slots that traverse through the plate body. The plurality of receiving slots are aligned with a U-shaped channel from each of the plurality of reed sections. Thus, air that is drawn or blown travels through the U-shaped channel from the plurality of reed sections and through the plurality of receiving slots. Since the U-shaped channel is precisely cut, air leakage is minimized and high quality sound is produced by triggering a vibrating membrane. |
| US10026383B2 |
Lock for tremolo bridge
A vibrato bridge system includes a base plate. A mounting frame is attached to the base plate. An anchor mates with an edge of the base plate. A spring arm has a first end attached to the base plate and extending roughly perpendicular to the base plate. A spring has a first end attached to a second end of the spring arm. A spring anchor is attached to a second end of the spring. A magnetic latch is connected between the spring anchor and the second end of the spring arm. When the base plate is in its resting position the two magnets of the lock are essentially touching. The bracket has a pair of parallel slots and a stop pin extends through an end of the male sleeve and through the pair of slots. |
| US10026380B2 |
Display device
A display device include a division circuit dividing an input image from a plurality of pixels into a plurality of regions based on the feature quantity of each of the plurality of pixels, a luminance reduction rate calculation circuit calculating the reduction rate of luminance of each region based on the surface area of each of the plurality of regions, an image generation circuit generating output images by correcting the luminance of each of the plurality of pixels based on the reduction rate calculated by the luminance reduction rate calculation circuit, and a correction circuit correcting labels assigned to each of the plurality of pixels by the division circuit. The division circuit is configured to divide the input image by assigning different labels to each region of the plurality of pixels. |
| US10026379B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a display panel which displays an image with light, the display panel including a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, and an image display layer disposed between the first and second substrates; a backlight unit which generates and provides the light to the display panel; and a bottom chassis facing the first substrate to dispose the second substrate therebetween and to define an inner space with the first substrate. The image display layer, the second substrate, and the backlight unit are accommodated in the inner space defined by the first substrate and the bottom chassis. |
| US10026378B2 |
Information processing methods and electronic devices for adjusting display based on environmental light
Information processing methods and electronic devices are provided. A method for an electronic device with a display unit may comprise: determining a first environmental light parameter under an environment where the electronic device is disposed; and determining a first display parameter for output by the display unit based on the first environmental light parameter. When the display unit performs display based on the first display parameter, a difference between a first color temperature of the display unit and a second color temperature of the environment may be less than a first preset threshold. |
| US10026375B2 |
Output amplifier of a source driver and control method thereof
An output amplifier of a source driver and a control method thereof are provided. The output amplifier includes a first switch circuit, a second switch circuit, a third switch circuit, a first input stage circuit, a second input stage circuit, a first active load circuit, a second active load circuit, a first positive output stage circuit, a first negative output stage circuit, a second positive output stage circuit and a second negative output stage circuit. In a first display stage of the control method, the first switch circuit outputs a positive reference signal through a first output terminal and outputs a negative reference signal through a second output terminal. In a second display stage of the control method, the signals outputted by the first output terminal and the second output terminal are exchanged. |
| US10026364B2 |
Life prediction method, computer readable media including life prediction program, and life prediction device
A life prediction method and device that can predict the life of a display device considering the differences between temperatures at measurements of the luminance of the display device. A monitor measures the luminance of the display screen using an optical sensor and measures the temperature around the display screen using a temperature sensor. A terminal device stores the measured luminances and temperatures in such a manner that the luminance and temperature are associated with each other. On the basis of the measured luminances and temperatures obtained by repeated measurements, the terminal device predicts the trend of changes in the luminance assuming that the temperatures at the measurements have been approximately constant, and predicts the life of the monitor on the basis of the predicted change trend. |
| US10026361B2 |
Pixel structure
A pixel structure includes a pixel unit layer and a first metal wire layer. Each of control signal line and first and second scan signal lines in the first metal wire layer is connected to each pixel unit in a corresponding row. An insulating layer is disposed between each first metal patterned section in the first metal wire layer and a corresponding row of pixel units. A second metal wire layer includes initial signal lines and second metal patterned sections. Each initial signal line is connected to each pixel unit in a corresponding row. Each second metal patterned section overlaps with one of the first metal patterned sections to form a capacitor. Each connection signal line in a third metal wire layer connects the first scan signal line of a current row of pixel units to the second scan signal line of a next row of pixel units. |
| US10026356B2 |
Organic light emitting display and driving method thereof
An organic light emitting display and a driving method of the organic light emitting display capable of reducing or minimizing power consumption. The driving method includes setting a number of selection times constituting one frame, and setting a number of unit times constituting the one frame. Each of the unit times includes j (j is a natural number of 2 or more) of the selection times. Scan signals are non-sequentially supplied to scan lines during each of the unit times. The one frame includes a number of subframes. Data signals for ones of the subframes having a same length are supplied corresponding to i (i is a natural number of 2 or more) consecutive ones of the scan signals. |
| US10026347B2 |
Array substrate, display panel and display device
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an array substrate, a display panel and a display device, which may simplify bezels at three sides of the display panel and achieve the effect of almost zero bezel visually. Because a GOA design is not adopted, the cost of a drive circuit may be reduced, and poor relevant reliability caused by the GOA may be avoided. The array substrate comprises a display area and a drive circuit area. The display area includes: a plurality of pixel units, a plurality of data lines, and a plurality of gate lines. The drive circuit area includes: a drive module being configured to provide signals to data lines and gate lines. The drive circuit area is outside of the display area and close to the data lines. The embodiments of the present disclosure are used to manufacture the array substrate, the display panel and the display device. |
| US10026346B2 |
Luminance distortion compensating apparatus, method of compensating luminance distortion using the same and display panel inspecting system having the same
A luminance distortion compensating apparatus includes an image data receiving circuit and a luminance distortion compensating circuit. The image data receiving circuit is configured to receive grayscale image data and full white image data displayed on a display panel. The luminance distortion compensating circuit is configured to compensate for a luminance distortion generated by a display panel inspecting apparatus inspecting the display panel, in the grayscale image data, using the grayscale image data and the full white image data. Thus, an inspection capability of a display panel inspecting system may be increased. |
| US10026343B2 |
Multifunctional window/door and building having wall configured using same
A multipurpose advertisement board comprising: a window; a vertical film comprising multiple film strips connected in series; a first image expression device comprising an operating unit rotatably connected to a vertical winding roller in upper and lower portions of the frame that vertically move the vertical film to display the multiple film strips in order; a horizontal film comprising multiple film strips connected in series; a second image expression device installed on the window frame, wherein the second image expression device comprises an operation unit rotatably connected to a horizontal winding roller installed in left and right portions of the window frame to rotate or release the horizontal film, thereby horizontally moving the horizontal film so that the multiple film strips of the horizontal film overlap with the film strips of the vertical film to make a combined image. |
| US10026341B2 |
Label, wristband clip, paper material and ink ribbon containing carbon dioxide absorbent liposome
Provided are a label, a top layer material formed on a printing medium, an information-bearing medium, a solid fuel and a wristband clip having the function of absorbing carbon dioxide, and carbon dioxide reduction methods using the same. Provided are labels 101, 120, 130 and 140, top layer materials formed on a printing medium 201, 246 and 266, information-bearing media 301, 330, 350 and 360, a solid fuel 401, and a wristband clip 510, to which a new carbon dioxide absorbent is added. Provided are also carbon dioxide reduction methods of absorbing carbon dioxide by burning the same. |
| US10026340B2 |
Method of detection and removal of auxiliary material suitable for the manufacturing of an aircraft element
A method of detection and removal of auxiliary material suitable for the manufacturing of an aircraft element includes providing an auxiliary material having at least one detection label, scanning the element with a label detector suitable to detect the detection label once the element has been manufactured, detecting the auxiliary material by means of a warning signal emitted by the label detector and removing the auxiliary material from the element. An auxiliary material suitable for the manufacturing of an aircraft element includes a detection label. |
| US10026339B2 |
Flexible laminate for packaging with integrated peelable portion
A flexible laminate structure for making a package and methods for constructing such flexible laminate structures are described that provide a peelable portion integral to the laminate structure. An inner ink layer may be printed on the peelable portion that includes a promotional offer, such as in the form of a barcode, where the inner ink layer is not visible to a consumer without first peeling the peelable portion off the package due to the presence of one or more blocker ink layers. |
| US10026338B2 |
Embedded motion sensing technology for integration within commercial ultrasound probes
An ultrasound system including an ultrasound machine and an ultrasound probe. The ultrasound probe includes an ultrasound transducer, ultrasound circuitry, a six degree of freedom (6-DOF) sensor, and a probe housing. The probe housing encases the ultrasound transducer and the 6-DOF sensor. By embedding motion-sensing technology directly within the housing of the ultrasound transducer, the position and orientation of the ultrasound probe can be tracked in an automated manner in relation to an indicator mark on the ultrasound screen. This allows assisting technologies to mitigate human error that arises from misalignment of the transducer indicator. |
| US10026337B2 |
First entry model
A simulated abdominal wall model that is ideal for practicing laparoscopic first entry surgical techniques is provided. The model includes a simulated abdominal wall portion captured between two frame elements of a support. The support is connectable to a surgical trainer. When connected to the trainer, the model provides a penetrable abdominal tissue portion for accessing an internal cavity of the trainer. The simulated abdominal wall includes a plurality of layers including a skin layer, a fabric posterior rectus sheath layer, a simulated fat layer of low-resilience polyurethane foam and at least two layers that provide distinctive haptic feedback upon penetration of the simulated transversalis fascia and muscle layers. The simulated abdominal wall includes a simulated umbilicus across several layers of simulated tissue. |
| US10026336B2 |
Refuse intelligence acquisition system and method for ingestible product preparation system and method
Electronically directing control at least in part of acquisition of refuse intelligence including information related to one or more discarded portions of at least one of the one or more selected ingestible products discarded by the particular individual subsequent to ingestion by the particular individual living being of one or more other ingested portions of the at least one of the one or more selected ingestible products within a second vicinity of the electronically outputting of the electronically generated one or more selection menus. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure. |
| US10026335B2 |
Activity recognition with activity reminders
An athletic performance monitoring system, for motivating a user to reach a goal level of athletic activity. The system may motivate the user by calculation a deficit between a current total level of activity and the goal level of athletic activity, and suggesting activity types that the user may carry out an order to reach the goal level, wherein the suggested activity types may be based on activities that are geographically close to the user, or sporting equipment worn by, or in possession of, the user. |
| US10026332B1 |
Method to deliver contextual educational information utilizing smart wearables
Educational information is provided to a user associated with a trigger object, and an education-related user attribute. Contemplated trigger objects include wearables, and especially pieces of jewelry. Contemplated education-related user attributes include current age, gender, subject being studied, current grade level, hobby, ethnicity, profession, vocation, location of interest, topic of interest, time period of interest, event of interest, favorite sport, favorite team, current school, color preference, resource preference, brand affinity, and expertise level. The educational information can be rendered directly on the trigger object, or on any other electronic rendering device. |
| US10026331B2 |
Educational gamification system and gameful teaching process
Systems and methods are provided for designing and shaping student experience in an academic course by using a server system and a plurality of remote mobile devices. The educational experience design system registers completion of challenges by text completion codes or quick response bar code reader located on the mobile device processor to credit experience points or debit experience points to purchase course privileges. The course instructor specifies challenge completion codes originating in a plurality of sources resulting in an immersive feedback learning environment. The educational experience design system updates data from external peer instruction systems and from external content systems. The immersive feedback environment, based on open-ended earning of experience points, as well as spending such experience points, shapes student experience in the course based on intrinsic motivation theories. |
| US10026330B2 |
Objectively characterizing intervention impacts
The disclosed embodiments include computerized methods and systems, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for objectively characterizing an impact of an intervention on individuals or groups. For example, a computing system may obtain, and store in a data lake, intervention data identifying interventions, and objective data characterizing an impact of these interventions on at least one individual. The computer system may also populate a queryable interface with query parameters (e.g., at least one of the interventions and at least a portion of the objective data), which may be presented to a user via a device. The computer system may obtain stored intervention and objective data consistent with a received query, which may be provided to the device for presentation to the user. The disclosed embodiments also provide a visual representation of trends in the stored data and candidate interventions the address the identified trends without user input. |
| US10026322B2 |
Integrated controller-pilot datalink communication systems and methods for operating the same
Integrated controller-pilot datalink communication (CPDLC) systems and methods for operating the same are disclosed. In one implementation, an integrated CPDLC system includes a plurality of CPDLC-enabled avionics devices and a CPDLC context manager coupled with each of the plurality of CPDLC-enabled avionics devices. The CPDLC system further includes a shared CPDLC context memory coupled with the CPDLC context manager and a CPDLC message in/out buffer coupled with the CPDLC context manager. |
| US10026318B2 |
Vehicle drive control apparatus and speed control method
A vehicle drive control apparatus includes: an object detection unit which detects positions, speeds, and sizes of objects around an own vehicle; and a speed control unit which detects a moving object existing in a place adjacent to a scheduled travelling path of the own vehicle and a speed change induction obstacle inducing a future speed vector change of the moving object from the objects detected by the object detection unit and changes a speed of the own vehicle, on the basis of a relative position relation of the own vehicle and the detected moving object and the speed change induction obstacle. |
| US10026312B1 |
Pedestrian pushbutton
A pedestrian pushbutton for activating a traffic device. A plunger mounted in a housing impinges on a piezo element when pressed. O-rings between the bolts that secure the plunger to the housing and the housing bias the plunger inwardly. A foam disk under the piezo element, or a resilient stem bumper on the back of the plunger, or both, bias the plunger outwardly with a force about equal to the inwardly biasing force of the O-rings on the bolts. Thus, the opposing resilient members maintain the plunger at neutral buoyancy when at rest. An O-ring disposed between the edge of the plunger and the opening in the housing centers the plunger. The pushbutton may include light and sound assemblies to confirm to the pedestrian visually and audibly that the pushbutton has been engaged. The sound chamber may be tuned based on the Helmholtz formula to achieve an optimum frequency. |
| US10026307B2 |
System and method for widget-assisted setup of a universal remote control
A system and method for enabling set up of a controlling device capable of controlling a plurality of appliances provides an interactive instruction set and associated programming which is downloadable to a controllable appliance having an associated display, such as an Internet enabled television. The programming is accessible by the controllable appliance and is configured to appropriately display interactive instructions from the interactive instruction set to a user during a user initiated set up procedure for setting up the controlling device to communicate commands to another controllable device (e.g., a DVD, VCR, DVR, etc). |
| US10026302B1 |
Mobile alarm device
A method of responding to alarm includes receiving an alarm message from an alarm system at a site. The alarm message may indicate that an alarm has been triggered at the site. In response to receiving the alarm message, a responder may be identified to respond to the alarm. A call message may be automatically sent over a network to a mobile alarm device in the possession of the responder. A message may be received back from the mobile alarm device accepting the call message for the alarm. In some embodiments, the responder's response to the alarm (for example, time to arrive at the alarm, time to clear the alarm) is automatically timed and monitored based on messages received from the responder over the mobile alarm device. |
| US10026299B2 |
Mobile supported disarming
In some embodiments, security and/or automation systems, hereinafter referred to as automation systems, may enable a user to deactivate a security portion of an automation system using a mobile device. An automation system may detect the presence of an authorized mobile device which may modify a status of at least one component of the automation system. The automation system may be installed at a user's residence and may identify when the user's mobile device enters a geographical region surrounding the residence. Modifying a status of at least one component may include deactivating a security component of the automation system. This may enable the user to enter the residence without the need to enter a code into a control panel. |
| US10026297B2 |
Remote alarm hushing with acoustic presence verification
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and systems for enabling remote alarm hushing with acoustic presence verification. Acoustic presence verification is used to assure that a device attempting to remotely deactivate an alarm is located within a certain distance of an alarming device before allowing the alarm to be hushed. Acoustic presence can be established through emission and monitoring of ultrasonic acoustic signals. The ultrasonic acoustic signals may be transmitted at a frequency that exceeds human hearing such as, for example, between 18 KHz and 22 kHz. Such ultrasonic signals have a relatively short range and are unable to penetrate walls and floors, thus providing an effective tool for ensuring that the device attempting to remotely hush an alarming device is within a line-of-sight of the alarming device. |
| US10026296B2 |
Network-connected cap for a container
Network-connected (i.e., “smart”) containers are described herein that include an electronic display on which personalized information can be presented. For example, the electronic display (and other necessary components, such as memory, processors, and communication modules) can be integrated into the cap or the body of a container, which holds a skin care product (e.g., a medication or a personal care product, such as a cosmetic) that is applied by the user as part of a skin care regimen. More specifically, a smart container can include an electronic display that presents relevant information to a user for review. Such information can include the name of the skin care product, textual instructions for complying with a skin care regimen, animations illustrating how to apply the skin care product, user information, messages (e.g., text messages delivered via a cloud service), notifications, and device information (e.g., battery status and network connectivity status). |
| US10026292B2 |
Patient monitoring system
A system for monitoring the movements or other activities of patient. Aspects include a monitoring device with one or more sensors such as a pressure or motion sensors that may be positioned on or near a patient. Alerts may be generated by the monitoring device if the sensor readings fall outside predetermined limits set in a patient profile specific to a particular patient. Sensor readings and/or alerts may be sent by the monitoring device to the central server which may notify nearby caregivers that a patient needs assistance. The server may be configured to analyze sensor readings and alert information to refine patient profiles to reduce or eliminate false alarms. |
| US10026287B2 |
Monitoring system
A monitoring system for deriving a measurement of a separation distance between a monitor and one or more tags, where each tag is adapted to be attached to or contained within an object to be monitored, comprises a monitor that is operable to trigger an event if the separation distance exceeds a set separation limit. A frequency of packet exchange between a tag and monitor is dynamically altered based on a comparison of one or more monitored parameters with a mode transition threshold. |
| US10026283B1 |
Multi-sensor intrusion detection system
An embodiment of the present invention may include a system and method for intrusion detection of an unauthorized human. The embodiment may include a security device with a human presence detector, recognition mechanisms, and a computer coupled to the device over a network. The device may detect a human and notify the computer. In response, the computer may cause the device to collect and transmit recognition mechanism information. This may include causing the device to collect and transmit first information, determining a degree of match to each corresponding stored information associated with a human, and determining that a sufficient match does not exist. For each subsequent mechanism, the embodiment may include causing the device to collect and transmit the subsequent information, determining a degree of match, and in response to determining that the confidence level of the match is above the threshold, classifying the human as authorized. |
| US10026281B2 |
Display for hand-held electronics
The invention disclosed here is a display system for managing power and security for a plurality of hand-held electronic devices sold to consumers in a retail location. The display includes features that allow power to be supplied to individual devices and security sensors without continuous hard wiring or multi-conductor retractor cables. The display also allows for individual security alarms to be triggered when a theft occurs. Security alarm conditions are preferably triggered via wireless signals. |
| US10026280B2 |
Anti-lost notification method and anti-theft device
An anti-lost notification method and an anti-theft device, which can improve accuracy of BLUETOOTH anti-lost notification, and avoid erroneous vibration notification in a non-lost case, where the method includes determining whether a step count value in first preset duration before a connection between an anti-theft device and a peer device is disconnected is greater than a preset value; if the step count value is greater than the preset value, determining whether a signal quality value sequence of a communication signal between the anti-theft device and the peer device shows a progressively decreasing trend in the first preset duration before the connected is disconnected; and giving an alarm if the signal quality value sequence shows a progressively decreasing trend in the first preset duration before the connected is disconnected. |
| US10026271B2 |
Automated banking system controlled responsive to data bearing records
An automatic banking machine operates responsive to data read from data bearing records corresponding to authorized user or financial account data. The machine includes a card reader for reading data from user cards. The automated banking machine causes financial transfers related to financial accounts that correspond to data read from user cards. The automated banking machine also includes devices that control the supply of power to included devices to avoid exceeding power supply capacity. |
| US10026270B2 |
Detection of unauthorized devices on ATMs
The disclosed embodiments include methods and systems for detecting ATM skimmers, other unauthorized devices, such as hidden video cameras or keypad overlays, and/or possible damage to the ATM based upon radio frequency (RF) signal emitted from the ATM and/or 3D image analysis. |
| US10026268B2 |
Poker-like guessing game
A poker-like guessing game uses an electronic device with a display and an audio generator to display a picture or play music for a predetermined period of time. The electronic device may be a smartphone, tablet computer or other portable electronic device. Participants bet that the players will—or will not—be able to identify the picture displayed or the music generated by the electronic device. The participants are rewarded when they bet correctly. Even if a player is able to identify the picture or sound, an object of the game is to fool or mislead the others (i.e., “bluff”) with a poker face or other evasive tactic. A picture is displayed, or the music is played, for a short period of time, preferably in the range of a few or several seconds. Participants may select favored categories which the electronic device may or may not allow them to use in play. |
| US10026266B1 |
Online open progressive jackpot contests
Progressive jackpot contests are operated in conjunction with games in an online system. In a contest, players compete for a jackpot funded independently from an account separate from the account paying out player winnings. The jackpot grows based on players' winnings in the games. Players of games qualify to enter contests based on their winnings in the games relative to eligibility criteria, Players of games increase their chances of winning a contests' jackpot by playing and winning in the games. As a result, contests provide an incentive for players to play game, and provide players an opportunity to win additional rewards beyond their individual game play payouts. |
| US10026263B2 |
Skill level initiated interleaved wagering system
A skill level initiated interleaved wagering system is disclosed, including: an interactive controller configured to: communicate an application telemetry communication comprising application telemetry; scan an application resource instruction; and scan a wager outcome communication; a wager controller constructed to: scan a wager instruction; generate the wager outcome; communicate, to the application controller, the wager outcome communication comprising the wager outcome; and the application controller operatively connecting the interactive controller and the wager controller and constructed to: determine an application level change, wherein the application level is associated with a user; generate the wager instruction comprising one or more wager parameters used in determining wager outcomes; communicate, to the wager controller, the wager instruction; scan the wager outcome communication from the wager controller; generate the application resource instruction comprising application resources; communicate the application resource instruction; generate the wager outcome communication; and communicate the wager outcome communication. |
| US10026262B2 |
Computer implemented frameworks and methodologies for enabling software authentication at an electronic gaming machine
Described herein is technology for enabling authentication of software instructions used in gaming machines. More specifically, the technology is directed to a situation where an electronic gaming machine operates based on two separate sets of software, being base data and game data. |
| US10026259B2 |
Game simulation
In various embodiments, a player may play a simulation of a mobile gaming device over the Internet using a personal computer. |
| US10026251B2 |
Money handling apparatus and money handling method
Burden on users is reduced. A setting unit is configured to set information about the use environment concerning a use environment in which a money handling apparatus is used. A transport unit is configured to transport money. A recognition unit is configured to recognize a kind of the money. A control unit is configured to control transporting of the money by the transport unit, according to a recognition result for the money by the recognition unit. Further, the control unit controls transporting of the money according to the information about the use environment that is set by the setting unit, in a case where a kind, of the money, recognized by the recognition unit corresponds to a predetermined specific kind. |
| US10026247B2 |
Request to exit two-wire control module
A REX activation detection and control module system configured to allow a REX device having at least four connectors to electrically connect with ACS devices having at least four connectors, while only connecting two wires to the REX device. The system comprises a first REX input/output device comprising two couplings and a second REX input/output device comprising at least four couplings. The system also comprises a current sense amplifier electrically connected to the first REX input/output device, the current sense amplifier configured to measure current from either the first REX input/output device. The system also comprises a microcontroller electrically connected to the current sense amplifier, the microcontroller configured to monitor the rolling average of the measured current output from the current sense amplifier. When the microcontroller detects an anomaly within the rolling average of the measured current, the microcontroller will activate the relay. |
| US10026246B2 |
Adaptive access control for areas with multiple doors
An access control system detects movement at a door to which a user has been granted access. A travel time is determined that describes how long the user is expected to need to travel between that door and another door in the area. After the travel time has elapsed, the other door is unlocked. Thus, the user can travel to and open the other door without having to present a credential for the other door. |
| US10026244B2 |
Parking area access control system as well as a method for the control of the access in a parking space
A parking area access control system includes a first blocking device (6) with a data communication connection to a central control device (2) for opening by a control device command. An identification element (22), with an unambiguous identification key, is arranged on the first blocking device (16). A mobile communication apparatus (20) is connected to the control device for data communication and is configured to read out the identification key from the identification element. The mobile communication apparatus (20) and the control device (2) interact such that the identification key is transmitted from the communication apparatus to the control device and, the control device or the mobile communication apparatus generates a temporary parking key. The control device (2), as a reaction to a request signal (6) sent from the communication apparatus (20) to the control device, opens the first blocking device which is identified by the identification key. |
| US10026241B1 |
Combustion engine airflow management systems and methods
An engine airflow management system includes an inlet portion to receive ambient air and a mass airflow (MAF) sensor to sense mass flow rate of air passed through the inlet portion. The airflow management system includes a throttle body to selectively restrict airflow and a throttle position sensor (TPS) to sense an opening value of the throttle body. The airflow management system includes an intake manifold in fluid connection with the throttle body configured to direct airflow to a number of combustion cylinders. A manifold air pressure (MAP) sensor detects air pressure at the intake manifold. A controller is programmed to monitor signals from each of the MAF sensor, TPS, and the MAP sensor and generate a residual error value based on a difference between a model-based value and a corresponding monitored signal. A response action is based on a trend of at least two residual error values. |
| US10026231B1 |
System and method for providing views of virtual content in an augmented reality environment
A system configured for providing views of virtual content in an augmented reality environment may comprise one or more of a light source, an optical element, one or more physical processor, non-transitory electronic storage, and/or other components. The light source may be configured to emit light. The optical element being configured to reflect light emitted from the light source into one or more eyes of a user. The non-transitory electronic storage may be configured to store virtual content information defining virtual content. The virtual content may include one or more of an annular dock, one or more virtual objects, and/or other virtual content. The annular dock may comprise a set of sockets. The annular dock may be configured to simulate removable engagement of individual virtual objects to individual sockets. The light source may be controlled to generate views of the annular dock to be perceived as surrounding the user. |
| US10026228B2 |
Scene modification for augmented reality using markers with parameters
Scene modification is described for augmented reality using markers with parameters. In one example, a method includes capturing a scene by a camera, the scene having a marker, analyzing the captured scene to identify the marker, determining a location of the marker in the captured scene, determining an augmented reality parameter associated with the identified marker, modifying the captured scene at the marker location based on the augmented reality parameter, and rendering the modified scene. |
| US10026227B2 |
Portable augmented reality
The different illustrative embodiments provide a method for augmenting reality that may be applied to repairs performed on a composite structure. An image may be recorded of a first layer of a composite component. The image may relate to a first repair performed at a first time. Physical data may be captured for the composite component from a surface layer of the composite component using a number of portable devices. A multi-dimensional representation of a combined augmented reality of the composite component including a display of various layers of the composite component selected by a user may be generated. A user selection may include a time restriction and a spatial restriction. The number of portable devices may display the multi-dimensional representation comprising physical data for an image of the surface of the composite component and digital data for an overlay of composite layers beyond the surface. |
| US10026221B2 |
Wetland modeling and prediction
Embodiments of the present application are directed to an automation process method to generate a set of wetland predictive variables using Light Detection and Ranging (“LiDAR”) data within a geographic information system (“GIS”) software platform, according to some embodiments, and to model and predict wetland in ArcGIS platform using the generated variable set. The automatic process also can run analysis on and display of the predicted wetland. The process is built by developing modules and connection in GIS. The above mentioned processes are automatically run and may just be run by one-button press, or on click, or separate buttons press, or separate clicks. |
| US10026220B2 |
Layered lightfields for occlusion handling
For occlusion handing in lightfield rendering, layered lightfields are created. Rather than use one lightfield for one camera position and orientation, multiple lightfields representing different depths or surfaces at different depths relative to that camera position and orientation are created. By using layered lightfields for the various camera positions and orientations, the camera may be located within the convex hull or scanned object. The depths of the layers are used to select the lightfields for a given camera position and location. |
| US10026218B1 |
Modeling indoor scenes based on digital images
Techniques are provided for modeling indoor scenes including receiving a request for a 3D model of an indoor scene based on multiple flat images of the indoor scene, where the images obey no more than a limited overlap requirement, are absent of depth information, and are taken from one or more viewpoints. The techniques proceed by determining vanishing points in the images, receiving floor contour information that was determined based on the vanishing points; reconstructing the 3D vertex positions of two or more floor plan parts using a geometric constraint matrix that encodes coordinate equalities among said vertices, based on the floor contour information; and assembling a combined floor plan based at least in part on the floor plan parts. The techniques proceed by receiving a floor plan outline indicating walls and generating the 3D model of the indoor scene based on the floor plan outline. |
| US10026217B2 |
Method for representing a plurality of image sequences
In order to allow a plurality of stereoscopic image sequences to be represented with comparatively good image quality, a method is provided which comprises the following method steps: i. receiving at least two sequences of multi-colored images in parallel; ii. breaking down each image into the basic colors thereof; iii. parallel processing the parts of an image that have been broken down into the basic colors in at least one respective data channel per basic color; iv. simultaneously displaying all parts of an image that have been broken down into the basic colors, wherein sequentially the images of different image sequences follow each other. A circuit assembly that can be used in this context is characterized by at least two signal inputs, wherein each signal input is used as an input for the image signals of an image sequences to be represented and the image signals are based on at least three basic colors, at least one signal output per basic color, wherein the basic color of a signal input is associated with at least one signal output, and a sorting unit, in which the image signals of the image signals that are essentially received via the different signal inputs are broken down into the basic colors thereof and sorted such, at each of the signal outputs, the received signals of a basic color of all signal inputs that are associated with the respective signal output are output. |
| US10026216B2 |
Graphics data processing method and apparatus
A graphics data processing method and apparatus are disclosed. The graphics data processing method includes determining a guard band region having a distance range which is predetermined in a viewing direction from a position of a virtual camera, outside a virtualization region representing regions of objects able to be displayed on a screen among a plurality of objects included in graphics data. The method further includes acquiring position information of each of the plurality of objects, determining a region where at least one object among the plurality of objects is located, based on the acquired position information, and performing at least one of clipping and culling on data of the at least one object, based on the determined region. |
| US10026214B2 |
Ray tracing apparatus and method
A ray tracing apparatus includes a traversal (TRV) core configured to traverse an acceleration structure (AS) to detect a first node and a second node, which intersect with a generated ray and have a determined same parent node, and to determine whether the ray intersects with an overlap region where a first bounding box corresponding to the first node overlaps a second bounding box corresponding to the second node; and, an intersection test (IST) determiner configured to calculate a first hit point where the ray intersects with a primitive belonging to the first node, which is a closer node to a view point of the ray among the first node and the second node, and to determine a final hit point of the ray based on a result of the determining of whether the ray intersects with respect to an overlap region, by the TRV core. |
| US10026213B1 |
Filtering for 3D scene rendering using ray divergence
Systems and techniques relating to scene rendering in computer graphics applications, such as rendering a scene using image based lighting, include a method including: performing, by a computer, ray tracing for a scene to be rendered by the computer, wherein performing the ray tracing include calculating a ray spread value for a ray propagated through the scene, the ray spread value being calculated based on a reflection geometry of at least one surface within the scene, and calculating a ray divergence value for the ray propagated through the scene, the ray divergence value being calculated based on one or more material properties of the at least one surface; defining, by the computer, a filter using both the calculated ray spread value and the calculated ray divergence value; and rendering, by the computer, the scene using the filter. |
| US10026211B2 |
Hardware-accelerated graphics for web applications using native code modules
Some embodiments provide a system that executes a web application. During operation, the system loads the web application in a web browser and loads a native code module associated with the web application into a secure runtime environment. Next, the system writes a set of rendering commands to a command buffer using the native code module and concurrently reads the rendering commands from the command buffer. Finally, the system renders an image for use by the web application by executing the rendering commands using a graphics-processing unit (GPU). |
| US10026207B2 |
Image display device, image display method and storage medium
An image display device including a display unit and a computing device that is operable to function as units including a clipping unit which clips an image of one portion from a fisheye image captured by using a fisheye lens as a clipping target area, a correcting unit which corrects distortion of the image clipped by the clipping unit, a specifying unit which specifies a vertical direction of a corrected image acquired by the correcting unit, based on orientation information when the fisheye image is captured, and a display control unit which controls the corrected image to be displayed on the display unit based on the vertical direction specified by the specifying unit. |
| US10026206B2 |
Image editing techniques for a device
A method of manipulating an image by a mobile-device includes segmenting image data corresponding to the image into a first image layer and a second image layer. The method also includes receiving a first user input at the mobile device, the first user input indicating a direction relative to the mobile device, and performing a first image editing operation on the first image layer based on the first user input. The method further includes receiving a second user input at the mobile device, the second user input indicating the direction relative to the mobile device, and performing a second image editing operation on the first image layer based on the second user input. The second image editing operation is distinct from the first image editing operation. |
| US10026201B2 |
Image classifying method and image displaying method
An image classifying method includes the following operations: reducing an order of a color of a first image to generate a first order reduction image, wherein the first order reduction image includes several first image blocks; obtaining a second order reduction image from a database, wherein the second order reduction image includes several second image blocks; calculating several block color difference values between the first order reduction image and the second order reduction image respectively according to differences between a color value of each of the first image blocks and a color value of each of the second image blocks; and determining whether or not the first image belongs to a same category as the second order reduction image according to the block color difference values between the first order reduction image and the second order reduction image. |
| US10026197B2 |
Signal processing method, signal processing apparatus, and storage medium
There is provided with a signal processing method. A filtering result is generated by performing spatial filtering on multi-dimensional data. Encoding result data is output by encoding the filtering result using a value at a pixel of interest of the filtering result and a value at a reference pixel located at a relative position with respect to the pixel of interest. The relative position of the reference pixel is decided in advance according to a characteristic of a spatial filter used in the spatial filtering step. |
| US10026196B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for self-position calculation of a vehicle using a light projector and a camera
A self-position calculating apparatus includes: a light projector projecting a patterned light beam onto a road surface around a vehicle; and a camera capturing an image of the road surface including an area onto which the patterned light beam is projected. The apparatus calculates an orientation angle of the vehicle from a position of the patterned light beam, and calculate an amount of change in orientation based on temporal changes in multiple feature points on the road surface. The apparatus calculates current position and orientation angle by adding the amount of change to initial position and orientation angle. If a condition under which the multiple feature points are detected does not satisfy a first criterion, the apparatus sets the current position at that time and the orientation angle at the initial position and orientation, and starts adding the amount of change to the initial position and orientation angle. |
| US10026195B2 |
Image recognition base ablation pattern position recall
Embodiments of the present invention exemplarily described herein relate generally to saving XYZ stage coordinates for intended laser locations as well as a kernel image of an ablation pattern placed during a scan placement process, and comparing the kernel image to a current image of the current field of view of a camera/microscope that includes the location a laser would be fired at. This comparison is used during an experimental run to correct for any built up error. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to apparatuses and methods for software based image recognition to correct errors in open looped systems for positioning a sample relative to a laser in analysis systems for zircon crystal grain dating. |
| US10026193B2 |
Methods and systems of determining costs for object tracking in video analytics
Techniques and systems are provided for processing video data. For example, techniques and systems are provided for determining costs for blob trackers and blobs. A blob can be detected in a video frame. The blob includes pixels of at least a portion of a foreground object. A physical distance between a blob tracker and the blob can be determined. A size ratio between the blob tracker and the blob can also be determined. A cost between the blob tracker and the blob can then be determined using the physical distance and the size ratio. In some cases, a spatial relationship between the blob tracker and the blob is determined, in which case the physical distance can be determined based on the spatial relationship. Blob trackers can be associated with blobs based on the determined costs between the blob trackers and the blobs. |
| US10026192B2 |
Color harmony verification system
A system for non-contact color harmony analysis is provided. The system may include an image acquisition system and an image analysis system. One or more cameras may take images of two regions of an object (e.g., a vehicle). The images may be transferred to the image analysis system, which may compare color values from each region and determine a color value difference. The color value difference may be compared to a predetermined threshold value to identify a possible color mismatch. The system may be used to analyze color harmony of adjacent vehicle components, for example, a front fascia and a fender or a rear fascia and a quarter panel. |
| US10026189B2 |
System and method for using image data to determine a direction of an actor
Example systems and methods are disclosed for determining the direction of an actor based on image data and sensors in an environment. The method may include receiving point cloud data for an actor at a location within the environment. The method may also include receiving image data of the location. The received image data corresponds to the point cloud data received from the same location. The method may also include identifying a part of the received image data that is representative of the face of the actor. The method may further include determining a direction of the face of the actor based on the identified part of the received image data. The method may further include determining a direction of the actor based on the direction of the face of the actor. The method may also include providing information indicating the determined direction of the actor. |
| US10026184B2 |
Grading method and device for digital image quality
The disclosure describes a grading method and device for digital image quality. The method comprises: obtaining a digital image and extracting n main body region blocks from the image; calculating a first ratio value of the area of a plurality of main body region blocks to the total area of the image, a second ratio value of the area of background region blocks to the total area of the image, and a normalized distance value from a plurality of the pixel points in the plurality of main body region blocks to a center pixel point of the image; calculating to obtain a quality score value of the image through a preset digital image quality score conversion relation based on the first ratio value, the second ratio value, and the normalized distance value; and grading a quality of image according to a quality score value of the image and a preset digital image quality score threshold value. |
| US10026181B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting object
An object detection method and apparatus are provided. The object detection method may include adaptively generating a pyramid image corresponding to a current frame based on information associated with a target object detected from a previous frame. |
| US10026179B2 |
Update set of characteristics based on region
An object may be identified, if each measured value of a characteristic of the object is within a corresponding range of a set of characteristics. The object may then be classified as a true alarm or false alarm by a user. Next, the measured values of the object may be added as a data point to a set of data points. Each of data points is along a plurality of dimensions and each of the dimensions corresponds to one of the set of characteristics. Further, each of the data points has been classified as a true alarm or false alarm.The range of the set of characteristics may be updated to reduce a weighted score based on a number of the true alarms that are outside a region along the plurality of dimensions and a number of the false alarms inside the region for the set of data points. The region is defined based on numerical analysis of the set of data points. The weighted score may provide separate weights to the true alarms outside the region and the missed alarms inside the region. |
| US10026178B2 |
Method of determining normality of imaging direction, and evaluation device of evaluating attachment state of imaging device
An image processing apparatus includes an acquiring unit, and determining unit. The acquiring unit acquires captured images from an imaging device mounted on a vehicle. The determining unit determines the normality of the imaging direction of the imaging device in accordance with whether an appearance pattern of a combination of a portion in which a variation is detected and a portion in which a variation is not detected among the acquired captured images corresponds to a predetermined pattern. |
| US10026177B2 |
Compact interactive tabletop with projection-vision
The subject application relates to a system(s) and/or methodology that facilitate vision-based projection of any image (still or moving) onto any surface. In particular, a front-projected computer vision-based interactive surface system is provided which uses a new commercially available projection technology to obtain a compact, self-contained form factor. The subject configuration addresses installation, calibration, and portability issues that are primary concerns in most vision-based table systems. The subject application also relates to determining whether an object is touching or hovering over an interactive surface based on an analysis of a shadow image. |
| US10026170B2 |
System and method for diagnostic vector classification support
The diagnostic vector classification support system and method disclosed herein may both reduce the time and effort required to train radiologists to interpret medical images, and provide a decision support system for trained radiologists who, regardless of training, have the potential to miss relevant findings. In an embodiment, a morphological image is used to identify a zone of interest in a co-registered functional image. An operator's grading of a feature at least partially contained within the zone of interest is compared to one or more computer-generated grades for the feature. Where the operator and computer-generated grades differ, diagnostic support can be provided such as displaying additional images, revising the zone of interest, annotating one or more displayed images, displaying a computer-generated feature grade, among other possibilities disclosed herein. |
| US10026168B2 |
Medical scanning system and method for determining scanning parameters based on a scout image
A medical scanning system and method for determining scanning parameters based on a scout image, the system includes: a scanned object description module for describing the shape of a scanned object on an initial image; an adjustment module for aligning the shape of the scanned object with the pre-stored average shape; a principal component analysis module for extracting the principal component for the aligned shape of the scanned object; a desired shape acquisition module for imparting weight parameters to said principal component, acquiring a plurality of new shapes, and from said plurality of new shapes, determining the new shape with the maximum cost function value as the desired shape and a scanning parameter setting module for setting scanning parameters based on the desired shape. |
| US10026166B2 |
Methods of detecting defects in registration controlled photomasks
A method of detecting defects of a photomask includes measuring registration errors of the photomask, correcting the measured registration errors using a registration control process with a laser beam, extracting deformation data of the photomask deformed by the registration control process, reflecting the extracted deformation data in defect detection parameters to obtain compensated defect detection parameters, and detecting defects of the photomask using the compensated defect detection parameters. |
| US10026163B2 |
Hydrometeor identification methods and systems
A technology is described for identifying hydrometeors. A method includes receiving an image of a hydrometeor captured using a camera. The hydrometeor in the image can be identified and analyzed to determine characteristics associated with the hydrometeor. Environmental measurements recorded substantially contemporaneously with the image can be obtained from environmental sensors located in proximity to the camera. A feature vector can be constructed using the hydrometeor characteristics and the environmental measurements. The feature vector can be input to a classification model used to classify the hydrometeor, and the classification model can output a classification for the hydrometeor using the feature vector. |
| US10026162B2 |
Method and device for sealant coating inspection
The present disclosure provides a method and a device of inspecting a sealant coating on a substrate. An image of a sample substrate is captured. The sample substrate is selected from a plurality of substrates. A non-coating area is identified from the image of the sample substrate. Abnormal points are identified in the non-coating area. Positions of the abnormal points are recorded. An image of a sealant-coated substrate having a sealant coating on one of the plurality of substrates is captured. Defect positions of the sealant coating are identified from the image of the sealant-coated substrate. Defects located in a non-coating area of the sealant-coated substrate at positions corresponding to the positions of the abnormal points identified based on the sample substrate are considered as normal. |
| US10026161B2 |
Apparatus and method for performing fourier transform
Provided are an apparatus and method for performing a Fourier transform. A method of performing a Fourier transform may include generating intermediate data by performing a one-dimensional fast Fourier transform (1D FFT) on data in a column direction, storing the intermediate data in a cell array in the column direction, reading out the intermediate data from the cell array in a row direction; and generating final data by performing a 1D FFT on the read-out intermediate data. |
| US10026157B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image pickup apparatus, image processing method, image processing program, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus 100 includes a data storage unit 101 configured to store information on first optical characteristic data, a data generation unit 102 configured to generate second optical characteristic data based on the first optical characteristic data related to a shot image and defocus characteristic data, and a restoration unit 104 configured to restore the shot image based on the second optical characteristic data. |
| US10026151B2 |
Head-up display warping controller
A script-driven head-up display controller comprising an image warping unit and an image projection unit wherein the image warping unit is coupled to the image projection unit and is adapted to: receive a line-based warping descriptor comprising first information associated with a distortion caused by a non-flat display; and, in response to the reception of the line-based warping descriptor, the image warping unit is further adapted to, based on the line-based warping descriptor: fetch one or more lines of the source image; and, output to the image projection unit at least one output line of the output image associated with an electronic image warping of one or more pixels of the one or more input lines, and wherein the line-based warping descriptor further comprises second information associated with buffer management instructions calculated off-line. |
| US10026144B2 |
Rendering windows having transparent properties from a remote desktop environment
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a remote desktop system which allows an application that executes on a remote computing device to be presented to a remote terminal as if the application is executing on the remote terminal. This system determines which of the remote computing device's application windows are top-level windows, and creates a rendering target for each top-level window. The rendering target is a graphics surface that is marshaled to the remote terminal. A PDU (Protocol Data Channel) is produced over this first graphics surface that includes a mapping of the location of the top-level window. A second graphics surface containing transparency information is created for a top-level window that contains a transparency characteristic. This second graphics surface is encoded and marshaled to the remote terminal separately from the first graphics surface. The client computing device receives and merges the two graphics surfaces, and renders a window with the expected transparency. |
| US10026143B2 |
Hybrid rendering systems and methods
Embodiments of a system and method for enhanced graphics rendering performance in a hybrid computer system are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a graphical element in a frame, application, or web page, which is to be presented to a user via a web browser, is rendered either by a first processor or a second processor based on indications of whether the first or the second processor is equipped or configured to provide faster rendering. A rendering engine may utilize either processor based on historical or anticipated rendering performance, and may dynamically switch between the hardware decoder and general purpose processor to achieve rendering time performance improvement. Switches between processors may be limited to a fixed number switches or switching frequency. |
| US10026139B2 |
Method of detecting and extracting a watermark
A method of detecting and extracting a watermark (digital watermarking) in a digital signal. The watermark is composed by the repetition of elementary components of a load to be transmitted. At least one repetition of an elementary component in the digital signal is detected. At least one quality attribute is assigned to each repetition of at least one elementary component. The repetitions of an elementary component are sorted according to a function of the quality attributes of these repetitions. Certain repetitions, dubbed individualities, of an elementary component are selected. The selected repetitions are fused. |
| US10026136B2 |
Automated discounting and negotiation
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for automated negotiation and discounts for consumers and merchants. In an embodiment, an automated system negotiates discounts with each individual consumer, on a one-on-one basis, on behalf of a merchant while continually finding the optimum equilibrium between live supply and demand data. This may be achieved via a discount system utilizing an algorithm that may seek an ideal balance between supply & demand, and may simulate the merchant's price flexibility or urgency to sell merchandise based on one or more campaign criteria and current market conditions. In another embodiment, the system may also automatically negotiate with merchants, on behalf of the consumers, based on live supply and demand data and the consumers' negotiation preferences. In this manner, the entire negotiations process may be automated using incomplete or complete information to benefit both consumers and merchants alike. |
| US10026134B2 |
Charging and discharging scheduling method for electric vehicles in microgrid under time-of-use price
A charging and discharging scheduling method for electric vehicles in microgrid under time-of-use price includes: determining the system structure of the microgrid and the characters of each unit; establishing the optimal scheduling objective function of the microgrid considering the depreciation cost of the electric vehicle (EV) battery under time-of-use price; determining the constraints of each distributed generator and EV battery, and forming an optimal scheduling model of the microgrid together with the optimal scheduling objective function of the microgrid; determining the amount, starting and ending time, starting and ending charge state, and other basic calculating data of the EV accessing the microgrid under time-of-use price; determining the charge and discharge power of the EV when accessing the grid, by solving the optimal scheduling model of the microgrid with a particle swarm optimization algorithm. |
| US10026131B1 |
Systems and methods for estimating vehicle speed and hence driving behavior using accelerometer data during periods of intermittent GPS
A system estimates the speed of a moving vehicle and hence the driving behavior of an individual driving the vehicle using accelerometer data. To do so, the system analyzes received accelerometer data to find idling points when the vehicle is not moving during a driving session. Based on the idling points, the system may divide the driving session into two or more segments. The system may then determine the speed of the vehicle at one or more boundary points of each segment. For each segment, the system may analyze the accelerometer data to determine the acceleration of the vehicle for points when the vehicle is moving. Subsequently, the system may calculate the speed of the vehicle for the points when the vehicle is moving based on the acceleration of the vehicle at the points when the vehicle is moving and the speed of the vehicle at the boundary points. |
| US10026130B1 |
Autonomous vehicle collision risk assessment
Methods and systems for determining collision risk associated with operation of partially autonomous vehicles are provided. According to certain aspects, autonomous operation features associated with a vehicle may be determined, including types and version of sensors, control systems, and software. This information may be used to determine collision risk levels associated with the features, which may be based upon test data regarding the features or actual collisions. Additional collision risk levels associated with operation by a vehicle operator may also be determined. Expected use levels may further be determined and used with the collision risk levels to determine a total collision risk level associated with operation of the vehicle. The expected use levels may include feature use levels set by the operator under various environmental conditions. |
| US10026121B1 |
System and method for personalized settlement video
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, to present a video. One of the methods includes obtaining settlement information for a user. One of the methods includes selecting non-personalized content, at least some of the non-personalized content selected based on the settlement information. One of the methods includes generating a user specific video using the settlement information and the selected non-personalized content. One of the method includes providing the user specific video to the user. |
| US10026120B2 |
Supply chain finance system
In an electronic supply chain finance system, a method of enabling a supplier to obtain funds includes receiving information from a buyer defining a payment obligation, receiving an offer to sell the payment obligation, and providing electronic instructions to print a negotiable instrument issued by the buyer, to the supplier as payee, having a payable date based on a maturity date of the payment obligation and a payment value based on a payment amount of the payment obligation. |
| US10026118B2 |
System for allowing external validation of data in a process data network
Systems, computer program products, and methods are described herein for a system for allowing external validation of data in a process data network. The present invention is configured to create a block chain of resource information based on at least aggregated information associated with past transfer of resources executed by an entity; receive an indication that the entity has executed a transfer of resources at a terminal; receive information associated with the transfer of resources based on at least receiving the indication that the entity has executed the transfer of resources; and update the block chain of transaction information with the transaction activity executed by the entity. |
| US10026114B2 |
System for clustering and aggregating data from multiple sources
Systems and methods are provided for receiving, aggregating, and analyzing data to develop caregiver rankings, recommendations, and other information that care seekers may use to connect with caregivers for services, or for caregivers to use to connect with care seekers. Sample data can be obtained from a plurality of data sources, processed to form data clusters, aggregated to form data records, and provided to a care seeker searching for a caregiver or medical facility. |
| US10026113B2 |
Online marketplace to facilitate the distribution of marketing services from a marketer to an online merchant
Methods and systems are provided for use, for example, in e-commerce. E-commerce data from a merchant may be received regarding interactions of customers with a website of the merchant. Characteristics of the e-commerce data may be identified. Based at least in part on the one or more identified characteristics, a plurality of marketing actions may be selected, or automatically selected, that are potentially effective for the merchant. The selected marketing actions may be ranked based at least in part on one or more of a quality score and one or more bids associated with each of the selected marketing actions. A ranked list of the selected marketing actions may be provided, or recommended, to the merchant. |
| US10026112B2 |
Systems and methods for storing and retrieving goods and services information using parameter/value databases
Improvements for parametized storage and retrieval of multiple different types of marketplace items include: (a) providing lists recommended parameters to guide users' entry and searching of data; (b) limiting users to suggesting additions of new parameters to the system; (c) an item classification based in whole or in part upon a trademark classification; (d) a data structure in which value data is stored in cells of a table for which a given column can represent multiple different parameters; (e) values can comprise links that resolve to particular items of data other than a file, a web site, and an email address; data is loaded en masse, and then distributed to edge cache databases; and (f) users can privatize individual records and values within their loaded data. |
| US10026110B2 |
Data processing systems and methods for generating personal data inventories for organizations and other entities
Data processing systems and methods, according to various embodiments, are configured for generating personal data inventories for an organization by: (1) conducting, by one or more computer processors, privacy impact assessments for each of the organization's new business initiatives, the privacy impact assessments including both data-mapping and non-data-mapping questions; (2) flagging, by one or more computer processors, any data-mapping questions within the privacy impact assessments as data mapping questions; and (3) generating, one or more computer processors, personal data inventories on-demand based on the flagged data-mapping data. |
| US10026109B2 |
Linking contracts to deliverable items
Techniques to link contracts to deliverable items are described. A contract service to collect and associate electronic signatures with contracts is implemented in an online retail environment for management of sale and delivery of items to consumers. The contract service facilitates real-time, on-line access to contracts between consumers and retailers for deliverable items at the time of delivery. In connection with a purchase transaction, a contract is generated via the contract service that is prepared for electronic signatures and has an associated contract identifier. The contract service obtains an item identifier that is uniquely associated with the deliverable item and links the contract to the item identifier. Then, a web accessible interface is exposed to enable look-up of the contract using the item identifier. At the time of delivery, the web accessible interface is employed to access the contract from the contract service for viewing and signing. |
| US10026107B1 |
Generation and classification of query fingerprints
A method and system for analyzing user behavior as users search for items within an electronic marketplace is provided. A query is submitted by a user of the electronic marketplace, the query is processed to identify a series of actions or behaviors performed by the user in relation to the query and fingerprint information for the query is determined based at least in part on analyzing the actions. A classification for a query is determined based on the fingerprint information. In one embodiment, an electronic marketplace receives a query from a user, accesses a query classification database having fingerprint information, determines a fingerprint for the query based on the fingerprint information and dynamically modifies a user experience for the user based at least in part on the fingerprint information. |
| US10026106B2 |
Synthetic pricing for devices in an energy management system
Techniques for providing a synthetic price are described herein. The techniques may include a method of synthetic price provisioning including identifying a device operating in a consumption entity, wherein the device operates at least partially based on a pricing signal provided by an energy provider. Optimal operation is determined based on the device and other devices in the consumption entity. The method includes providing a synthetic pricing signal to replace the pricing signal provided by the energy provider such that the devices operate according to the optimization model. |
| US10026102B2 |
Computer method and system for target advertising based on user rank in a computer network
A computer method and system for ranking computer network portal users is provided. The system and method comprise a ranking module which determines rank of an individual in a community of global computer network users. The ranking module determines rank of an individual as a function of user demand. The function of user demand includes any one or combination of number of requests to be connected to the individual user, readership following of the individual user and keywords common between profiles or authored works by the individual user and those of other users. An output member is coupled to receive the determined rank from the ranking module and generates an ordered list of user names ordered by determined rank of individuals. The rank of individuals may be provided to external entities such as fraud detection systems or advertising targeting engines. |
| US10026100B2 |
Methods and apparatus for facilitated off-site targeted internet advertising
A super-saturation method for information-media relates to directing information to an electronic media consumer (reader, surfer, viewer, listener, etc.). Embodiments of the present invention facilitate a first media entity substantially offering out of context information placement using a second media entity. A facilitator entity guarantees that a consumer of the second media is a known consumer of the first media. Accordingly, the second media entity presents an out of context information placement. For example, an Internet site “AAA” is oversubscribed with potential paying advertising content at $100 CPM. This site offers advertisers an option to present their advertisements to certified “AAA” viewers, albeit on a non-AAA Internet site, for $50 CPM. The facilitator locates certified AAA viewers at Internet site “BBB” that normally charges $30 CPM. Contracts between AAA, BBB, and the facilitator divide a new revenue stream of $20 CPM among them. |
| US10026099B1 |
Computerized waiting list tracking system
Tracking waiting lists associated with merchants and presenting deals to users based on adding the users to waiting lists is described. A service provider may enable merchants to track waiting lists associated with their own services and services of other merchants. Users may be automatically added to waiting lists of merchants based at least in part on a service provider determining that a user is at a geographic location of a merchant. Based at least in part on adding a user to a waiting list for a particular merchant, the service provider may access and select deals from one or more alternative merchants. The one or more alternative merchants may not have waiting lists or may have waiting lists with fewer groups than the waiting list for the particular merchant. The service provider may offer the deals to the user via a user device. |
| US10026098B2 |
Systems and methods for configuring and presenting notices to viewers of electronic ad content regarding targeted advertising techniques used by Internet advertising entities
A computerized system and techniques facilitate the monitoring and management of online behaviorally-targeted advertising. In certain embodiments, electronic notifications related to advertising practices of members of an online advertising ecosystem are presented to users based on the discovery of elements of online content aimed at delivering targeted advertising messages to viewers of the content. |
| US10026096B2 |
Systems and methods for discovery and tracking of web-based advertisements
Systems and methods are provided for discovering advertisements on publisher web pages and for identifying placement pathways by which discovered advertisements have been placed on the publisher web pages. An advertisement tracking and discovery system may use multiple web crawler applications to explore multiple publisher websites. The web crawler applications may gather advertisement data that includes times associated with each request made by the web crawler application. The system may use the gathered advertisement data and the times associated with each request to determine the placement pathways by which discovered advertisements have been placed. Each placement pathway may include one or more advertising channels or combinations of advertising channels. The system may accumulate and aggregate advertising data associated with the advertisements and the placement pathways and display the aggregated advertising data to a customer. |
| US10026093B1 |
System and method for providing virtual items to users of a virtual space
Participation by multiple users in an online game through client computing platforms associated with the users is facilitated. User accounts associated with the users indicate affiliations having a functional significance between users. Presentation of offers to sell virtual items are provided to users having a first affiliation and to users having a second affiliation. The virtual items associated with the offers are distributed to the users having a first affiliation upon an indication that a threshold number of users having the first affiliation have accepted the offer and are not distributed to users having a second affiliation upon an indication that a threshold number of users having the second affiliation have not accepted the offer. |
| US10026091B2 |
Method for supporting a vehicle
A method for assisting a vehicle which is determined to be undrivable, which includes requesting an assistance vehicle by position information of the vehicle and navigating the assistance vehicle to the vehicle by the position information. The method determines, using a cause of why the vehicle is undrivable further, whether restoring the driving capability of the vehicle requires human assistance and navigates the vehicle with the assistance vehicle in a driverless state to a location of the vehicle at least if the restoring process does not require human assistance or merely requires remote human assistance. Also disclosed is a method for assisting a vehicle which requires repair and/or maintenance, wherein the vehicle is taken in a driverless state to a repair location. |
| US10026084B2 |
Systems and methods for initiating and authorizing transactions using a detectable device
A system for initiating and authorizing a transaction including one or more memory devices storing instructions and one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to associate a detectable device with at least one financial account. The one or more processors may be further configured to receive a notification indicating that the detectable device is involved in a potential transaction initiated by a sensor device detecting the detectable device in an initiating action. The one or more processors may be further configured to receive transaction information associated with the potential transaction. The one or more processors may be further configured to identify a customer profile associated with the detectable device, and determine whether the potential transaction is authorized by a customer based on the transaction information and at least one profile customization parameter associated with the customer profile. |
| US10026082B2 |
Method and system for linkage of blockchain-based assets to fiat currency accounts
A method for managing fractional reserves of blockchain currency includes: storing, in a first central account, a fiat amount associated with a fiat currency; storing, in a second central account, a blockchain amount associated with a blockchain currency; storing a plurality of account profiles, each profile including a fiat currency amount, blockchain currency amount, account identifier, and address; receiving a transaction message associated with a payment transaction, the message being formatted based on one or more standards and including a plurality of data elements, including a data element reserved for private use including a specific address and a transaction amount; identifying a specific account profile that includes the specific address included in the data element in the received transaction message; and updating the blockchain currency amount included in the identified specific account profile based on the transaction amount included in the data element in the received transaction message. |
| US10026078B1 |
System and method for accessing multiple accounts
The invention relates to a system and method for accessing multiple accounts. According to one embodiment, the system includes an access device comprising a body in the form of a card; a processor housed in the body; a memory housed in the body and connected to the processor, wherein the memory stores information on the multiple accounts; a selection device housed in the body and adapted to allow a user to select one of the multiple accounts; a display housed in the body for displaying information identifying the selected account, wherein the processor is programmed to generate a signal to generate the information identifying the selected account in response to a user selecting one of the multiple accounts using the selection device; and a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver housed in the body and connected to the processor. The system may also include a server that communicates with the access device and with the user, wherein the server communicates with a second wireless transmitter and second wireless receiver that communicate wirelessly with the access device, and the server is adapted to send and receive electronic signals over network to the user. |
| US10026077B2 |
Payment cards for multiple accounts, and methods associated therewith
Provided is a payment card for multiple accounts. The card comprises a card member; a plurality of programmable chips, at least one of which is releasably attached to the card member; each programmable chip has an associated personal identification number (PIN); and a control chip operable for selecting one of the programmable chips to be active during a transaction. |
| US10026076B2 |
Systems, methods, and computer readable media for payment and non-payment virtual card transfer between mobile devices
The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable media for virtual card transfer between near field communications (NFC)-enabled mobile devices. According to one aspect, a method for over-the-air (OTA) virtual card transfer between NFC-enabled mobile devices is disclosed. The method includes receiving, at an OTA provisioning server, a virtual card, from a sending mobile device, that is intended for a receiving mobile device. The virtual card is provisioned, over the air, to the receiving mobile device, where the virtual card is immediately presentable by the receiving mobile device at a point of sale terminal. |
| US10026073B2 |
Method and system for communicating location of a mobile device for hands-free payment
Certain aspects of a method and system for communicating location of a mobile device for hands-free payment may include a peer-to-peer ad-hoc network that comprises a plurality of mobile devices, a plurality of access points, and a plurality of point of sale (POS) devices. A first mobile device may determine its location coordinates and communicate them to a selected POS device via the peer to peer ad-hoc network. At least one of the plurality of mobile devices and/or the plurality of access points may be within a defined proximity of the selected POS device. In some instances, the first POS device may receive via one or more intermediate mobile devices in the peer-to-peer ad-hoc network, location coordinates and payment transaction information of a selected mobile device. At least one of the intermediate mobile devices may be within a defined proximity of the first POS device. |
| US10026071B2 |
Communication device, service providing device, and communication server
There is provided a communication device including an acceptation unit configured to accept a service execution request for requesting execution of a service, a control unit configured to specify a service providing device to which a request for execution of a service provided by the service providing device is made based on a device record that includes the service and provision destination group information that indicates a provision destination group of the service, and the service execution request accepted by the acceptation unit, a transmission unit configured to transmit the service execution request to the service providing device specified by the control unit. |
| US10026069B2 |
System and method for software application usage metering using data store
A system and method for usage metering software applications (or features or functions) by monitoring the data store underlying the software application. The data store function may be implemented in many ways, such as a Relational Database, Transactional Database, Network and Graph Database, Object-Oriented Database, Embedded Database, In-memory Database, Schema-less Database, Files and Directories, whether structured or unstructured, Configuration Registries, or Non-traditional Repositories. Business activities performed by the software application are tracked and are independent of hardware usage. Such usage data is valuable in a variety of contexts, including billing based on business activity. |
| US10026067B2 |
Storage and recovery of digital data based on social network
Backup and restore of digital data may utilize online social network parameters of a user to determine a number of parts into which to divide digital data and distribute the parts. A list of friends from the social network friends may be selected, e.g., based on a relationship to the user in the social network, to store the parts. The parts may be stored in a friend's device memory, each of the parts stored with a different friend. The digital data may be reconstructed by obtaining a threshold number of parts from the friends. |
| US10026066B2 |
System for providing goods and services based on accrued but unpaid earnings
A system for interfacing predetermined services to a user at a fixed location includes a processing platform running an operating system. Also included are a plurality of physical system resource interfaces for interfacing with available physical system resources. The physical system resources allow a user to gain access to the predetermined desired services. The system further includes a data store for storing configuration information for enabling the operating system to interface with the available physical system resources through the physical system resource interface associated therewith. A communication resource for interfacing with the operating system allows communication of the operating system with a central office for downloading configuration information to selectively enable ones of the available physical system resources to interface with the operating system through associated ones of the physical system resource interfaces in accordance with the configuration information and the predetermined service selected by a user. A plurality of configurations are stored in the data store, and each is associated with a predetermined service and one or more of the available physical system resources. Each physical system resource interface is uniquely associated with a defined one of the physical system resources. |
| US10026061B2 |
Interactive organization visualization tools for use in analyzing multivariate human-resource data of organizations
Visualization tools, and systems and software underlying such tools, for allowing user to visualize organizations of people. Members of an organization are represented by unabstracted nodes. In some embodiments, visualization diagrams are efficiently created by abstracting the unabstracted nodes in a manner that reduces the number of nodes needing to be rendered, while retaining the visual character of a similar diagram composed of the original, unabstracted nodes. In these embodiments, regions of abstraction diagrams can be selectively de-abstracted in response to a user's selection within the abstraction diagram. In response to such a selection, in some instances only a particular hierarchical reporting chain within the organization, or a portion thereof, is de-abstracted to allow the user to view unabstracted nodes within that chain. Also disclosed are other visualization tools, such as attribute-overlay tools, time-scrubbing tools, and geographic distribution tools, among others. |
| US10026054B1 |
Systems and methods for receiving packages delivered by unmanned vehicles
An apparatus for receiving a package delivered by an unmanned aerial vehicle comprises a collapsible package receiver adapted to be movably coupled to a building. The collapsible package receiver is configured to be placed from a collapsed position to a pop-out position to receive the package from the unmanned aerial vehicle. The apparatus has a memory associated with the package receiver which stores computer-readable instructions. A processor is configured to execute the instructions to: (a) determine a characteristic of the package delivered by the unmanned aerial vehicle to the package receiver; and (b) notify a user of the delivery of the package. |
| US10026047B2 |
System and method for crowd sourcing
A method for crowd sourcing tasks may include identifying a group of potential candidates for crowd sourcing. Each candidate of the group of potential candidates may be identified based on the candidate being expected to accept a certain type of task. The certain type of task may be at least a task that is performable within a predetermined range of time. The method may also include receiving a request to perform a particular task from a requester. The method may additionally include determining if the particular task is the certain type of task. The method may further include transmitting an offer for performance of the particular task to at least a subgroup of the group of potential candidates in response to the particular task being the certain type of task. |
| US10026040B2 |
Cognitive interfaces for use within a cognitive environment
A cognitive information processing system comprising: a cognitive inference and learning system coupled to receive data from a plurality of data sources and to provide insights to a destination, the cognitive inference and learning system comprising a first interface, the first interface providing the data from the plurality of data sources to the cognitive interface and learning system, and, the cognitive inference and learning system comprising a second interface, the second interface providing the cognitively processed insights to the destination. |
| US10026037B2 |
Systems and methods for configuring knowledge sets and AI algorithms for automated message exchanges
Systems and methods for configuring AI algorithms and knowledge sets within an automated messaging system are providing. In some embodiments, a message is received. A subsection of text from the training message is selected. Likewise, a knowledge set is selected. The knowledge set includes probabilistic associations between a term and a category. The terms in the selected subsection of text are compared to the knowledge sets to generate insights and contexts. The insights enable the categorization of the training message. This categorization has an associated confidence value based upon how strongly the terms in the text subsection are associated with the category (per the selected knowledge set). A low confidence value causes the message to be a candidate for training (a training message). Once identified as a training message, it may be displayed to an AI developer for approval or rejection of the categorization. The probabilities of the associations within the knowledge sets are updated in response to these approvals and/or rejections. |
| US10026035B2 |
RFID tag including a coating
A RFID device which can include a substrate, an antenna having a gap defined therein, a wireless communications device coupled to the antenna and a coating disposed over a portion of the antenna and within a portion of the gap. The coating may be an insulator or an environmentally-responsive material. |
| US10026032B2 |
Dynamic authentication system and methods for use with legacy terminals
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method and communication device with an emulated mag stripe capability. Information is transmitted in the mag stripe data indicating that the communication device has chip capability as well. This information is used by a server on the back-end (acquirer, issuer, network) to take advantage of that chip capability. For example, additional fields can be used for security measures and communication over the telecommunications network with the device can be performed to provide a more secure communication with a terminal. In one embodiment, the additional information is provided in the service code, using a unique 3 digit code other than 2xx. |
| US10026029B2 |
Image processing apparatus, and control method, and computer-readable storage medium thereof
An image processing apparatus, which has an input unit configured to input image data and which is communicably connected to an external apparatus via a network, includes an obtaining unit configured to obtain a document with a predetermined form that includes a request for input of image data, via the network from the external apparatus; a display unit configured to display, in the event of displaying a screen corresponding to the document obtained by the obtaining unit, a screen including a display object based on the predetermined form, the display object to instruct inputting of image data by the input unit; a determining unit configured to determine whether or not to display the display object on the display unit; and a control unit configured to control the display of the display object by the display unit, according to determination results of the determining unit. |
| US10026027B2 |
Printing control apparatus, control method for the printing control apparatus, and printing system
A printing control apparatus connected to a printing apparatus operated in a standby state and a power saving state includes a reception unit that receives a printing request for causing the printing apparatus to execute printing, a generation unit that generates printing data in accordance with the printing request received by the reception unit, a determination unit that determines whether or not the printing apparatus is in the power saving state, and a transmission unit that transmits return data for returning the printing apparatus from the power saving state to the standby state before the printing data generated by the generation unit is transmitted in a case where the determination unit determines that the printing apparatus is in the power saving state, and does not transmit the return data in a case where the determination unit determines that the printing apparatus is not in the power saving state. |
| US10026026B2 |
Printer, printing system and print control method
The present invention enables successful printing whether printing data contains a character code of either code page or Unicode without an addition of an apparatus for code conversion and without expansion of printer memory for storing Unicode font set. Upon receipt of the input of printing data containing the character code of the code page, a first print control unit is selected to control printing of a string represented by the code page with a font available for the code page. Upon receipt of the input of printing data containing the character code of Unicode, a second print control unit is selected to convert the character code of Unicode to the character code of the code page and to control printing of a string represented by the Unicode with a font available for the code page on the basis of the code page after conversion. |
| US10026025B2 |
Card reader
A card reader may include a fixed body having a card moving passage, a pulling-out prevention member supported by the fixed body and structured to turn between a closing position and an open position, and structured to prevent pulling-out of the card at the closing position, a first urging member which urges the pulling-out prevention member toward the closing position, a lock member to prevent turning of the pulling-out prevention member toward the open position, and a lock member drive mechanism. The lock member may be driven by the lock member drive mechanism and swung so as to be switched from one of an unlocking attitude permitting turning of the pulling-out prevention member toward the open position and a locking attitude interfering with the pulling-out prevention member and preventing turning of the pulling-out prevention member toward the open position to the other of the unlocking attitude and the locking attitude. |
| US10026024B2 |
Method of and apparatus for analysis of a sample of biological tissue cells
At least first and second digital images of the sample are acquired having different focal heights relative to a platform on which the cells are disposed. A contrast matrix is produced having elements computed in dependence upon the difference between the values of the corresponding pixels in the first and second images. A phase matrix is produced by convolution of the contrast matrix with a predetermined distance matrix. The phase matrix is used to assess characteristics of the sample, such as the presence of cells in the sample or the heights of cells in the sample. |
| US10026022B2 |
Face recognition in big data ecosystem using multiple recognition models
A system trains a facial recognition modeling system using an extremely large data set of facial images, by distributing a plurality of facial recognition models across a plurality of nodes within the facial recognition modeling system. The system optimizes a facial matching accuracy of the facial recognition modeling system by increasing a facial image set variance among the plurality of facial recognition models. The system selectively matches each facial image within the extremely large data set of facial images with at least one of the plurality of facial recognition models. The system reduces the time associated with training the facial recognition modeling system by load balancing the extremely large data set of facial images across the plurality of facial recognition models while improving the facial matching accuracy associated with each of the plurality of facial recognition models. |
| US10026021B2 |
Training image-recognition systems using a joint embedding model on online social networks
In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a shared visual concept in visual-media items based on shared visual features in images of the visual-media items; extracting, for each of the visual-media items, n-grams from communications associated with the visual-media item; generating, in a d-dimensional space, an embedding for each of the visual-media items at a location based on the visual concepts included in the visual-media item; generating, in the d-dimensional space, an embedding for each of the extracted n-grams at a location based on a frequency of occurrence of the n-gram in the communications associated with the visual-media items; and associating, with the shared visual concept, the extracted n-grams that have embeddings within a threshold area of the embeddings for the identified visual-media items. |
| US10026014B2 |
Method and apparatus for data set classification based on generator features
A method including receiving, by an image classification engine, a number K of clusters to be created by a clustering algorithm. The method further including receiving, by the image classification engine, a set of elements based on an image, executing, by the image classification engine, the clustering algorithm on the set of elements to create K clusters, each cluster having a respective subset of the set of elements, for each cluster, computing, by the image classification engine, a centroid of the cluster, for each cluster, creating, by the image classification engine, a generator of the cluster based on the respective subset of the set of elements corresponding to each cluster, and for each element of each cluster, computing, by the image classification engine, a cost function corresponding to the element based on the centroid, the respective subset of the set of elements, and the generator corresponding to the cluster. |
| US10026012B2 |
Method and apparatus for separating objects, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium
A method and an apparatus for separating objects are disclosed. The method includes obtaining a depth image including a plurality of objects; obtaining a two-dimensional image including the objects; performing pixel-clustering using depth values of pixels in the depth image and pixel values of pixels in the two-dimensional image to obtain a plurality of sub-regions; performing region-clustering for the sub-regions to obtain a clustering result as an object separation result; and outputting the object separation result. |